Phaedo Four-level summary and Question Answers

Phaedo

Plato (428/427 BC-348/347 BC)
Unit: Ancient Tales
Subject: Adventures in English Volume I

Literal-Comprehension:

Echecrates asked Phaedo to tell him about Socrates’s death, and Phaedo warmly welcomed the chance to remember his friend Socrates in the final hours of his life. He said that it was a surprising experience because although he was witnessing the death of a dear friend, he had no pity because of how Socrates bravely and happily faced it, unafraid of the unknown. Socrates drank the hemlock (poison) and his friends become quite disturbed. Socrates scolds them slightly and said that he had sent the woman away for fear of them reacting with tears. Phaedo said that he felt Ashamed for crying when Socrates was so dignified and the great philosopher and man took his last breath of air before dying. Those who knew him respected him highly up to the very end of his life.

Interpretation:

This story might be trying to tell us that we ought to live our lives as long as we gain something from them and that we should not be attached to them if it has nothing to offer. It may also be interpreted to mean that the dying man teaches us how to live. In other words, we can leave life to the full extent if we have no fear of death.

Critical-Thinking:

When we read this story we find it very difficult to believe what Socrates has done. Can a man drink poison so happily? Doesn’t he like to live? Is his principal more important than his life? But this story has defined the soul as a traveler. The soul makes a journey from this world to another. If we accept this view, we will be dead tolerable.

Assimilation:

The life of Socrates has influenced me very much. One must have courage enough to declare one conviction and follow it. Socrates did what he had already said. Such a person is really great. If all of us hold the same attitude to life and to other things, we can make our life really valuable. We should live happily and die happily.

Question Answers of Phaedo

Q1.Basing your answer on the next tale ('Phaedo'), answer the question: how should a human being face death?

ANSWER: According to the story, Phaedo, human beings should face death bravely and peacefully. we should not be afraid of death. In the story, Phaedo, Socrates easily accepts his death. he believes that we should have the courage to die bravely if we are correct.

Q2.Do you accept Socrates's belief in the hereafter? If you share his views, what might a contemporary Biologist say about them?

ANSWER: No, I don't accept Socrates's belief in the hereafter. because science has not proved yet that the soul passes from one body to another body. it is just superstition.

Q3.Why was Socrates given the death penalty? Or why was Socrates given the poison hemlock?

ANSWER: Socrates was charged for 'corrupting the minds of the youth' and 'refusing to accept the Gods of the state' if found guilty the sentence could be the death penalty. Socrates was given three hours to put forth his argument and defend himself in front of 500 fellow Athenians as Jury. Socrates was 70 by that time and was famous for his popularity among youth and his anti-democratic views. after hearing both sides of the argument Jury's decided to take a vote on their decision in which Socrates was voted guilty by 280 Jurys. which made Socrates go on the death sentence. since Athenian law prescribed the death sentence by drinking a cup of poison hemlock, Socrates was given hemlock.

Q4.Who was Socrates?

ANSWER: Socrates was a Greek philosopher and is considered the father of western philosophy. when the political climate of Greece turned against him, Socrates was sentenced to death by hemlock poisoning.