Phaedo / Four Levels

Literal Comprehension: This text was written by Plato, a great Greek philosopher and disciple of Socrates. It is about the last moment of Socrates’ death and his philosophy of life,death and rebirth. Socrates was amused of misleading youths of Athens teaching his philosophy. For the punishments, the ruler declared his death sentence. Phaedo was present when Socrates was killed feeding poisons. So, he has reported here what was the overall condition of Socrates at the last hour. Because of a mission Socrates’ death execution was delayed until the arrival of the ship from Delos. When the last time was approaching Socrates was teaching his philosophy of life, death and beginning of new life to his disciples and people. His wife, family, relatives were very much sad. On the day of execution when he finished his philosophical discussion and took bath. Then the prison officer came and ordered him to take a bowl of poison. There was no chance in the condition of Socrates. He drank the poison happily. When the poison spread all parts of his body he sat down and happily took his last breathe. He made a last wish with Crito to offer a cock to the healing god, Asclepius.  

  Interpretation: This philosophical text might be trying to expose about life death and rebirth. It tells that life and death are two sides of a coin. Death is a beginning of new life not the end of life. The text also might be trying to tell about the importance of death. Death is compulsory if we get life or birth. We should accept death happily because this is a good chance of next life again. Like Socrates we all should try to be the noblest and wisest person. He accepts death naturally because he thinks only after death the heavenly happiness can be achieved. Dying bravely is better than living like dead one. Death is not any dangerous thing we have to be afraid of rather a right path to the life of infinity.

Critical Thinking: This lesson has done a lot to avoid the people’s fear and negative concept about death. Normally, we think death negatively and always scare of it. But Socrates has faced it bravely and wisely to teach the lesson to all cowardice people who are chicken hearted in term of death. But there are some disagreeable aspects that can be raised there. Socrates says death is a path to heavenly happiness. If so: Is there so far scientific proof of god, heaven, hell like things? Can we find Socrates like person at present? Can a person become cheerful at the last hour of file?, etc. still the moral aspect of the lesson is unquestionable one.

 Assimilation: Before reading this text, I used to be too much frightened of death and loss of precious life. When I read this text I got new insight in my life. I should be ready to go leaving everything. After death there can be the beginning of next life. I left becoming much greedy, money-minded and cruel to other people. Similarly, we must be very- very much courageous to accept any challenge that comes on the way of life. These types of visions charged my thinking of life and death very much.