Phaedo
Follower of Socrates and narrator of his final dialogue.
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Phaedo of Elis is a follower of Socrates and the narrator of Plato's dialogue Phaedo, which recounts the final hours and execution of Socrates. He is a youth allegedly enslaved as a prisoner of war, whose freedom was purchased at Socrates' request, and later founded a school of philosophy. The dialogue named after him is a key source for Socratic thought on the immortality of the soul and the afterlife.
Lore & Background
He later founded a school of philosophy. The dialogue Phaedo is presented within a frame story by Phaedo, who is recounting the events to Echecrates, a Pythagorean philosopher. In the dialogue, Phaedo relates the discussion between Socrates and his friends on the day of Socrates' execution, including the arguments for the soul's immortality and the mythological narrative of the descent into Tartarus.
Reader's Guide
Phaedo's significance lies primarily in his role as the narrator of one of Plato's most influential dialogues, which explores the immortality of the soul and the nature of the afterlife. Through Phaedo's account, Plato presents Socrates' arguments for the soul's immortality with the Pythagorean philosophers Simmias and Cebes, and concludes with a mythological narrative of the descent into Tartarus and an account of Socrates' execution. The dialogue is part of Plato's middle period, along with the Republic and the Symposium, and is the fourth and last dialogue to detail Socrates' final days, following Euthyphro, Apology, and Crito. Phaedo's own founding of a school of philosophy further cements his place in the history of ancient Greek thought.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Phaedo?
Phaedo is a young Greek from Elis who served as a devoted follower of Socrates and the narrator of the Platonic dialogue that bears his name. According to tradition, he was captured as a prisoner of war and enslaved before Socrates arranged for his freedom to be purchased.
What is Phaedo's role in the dialogue?
He acts as the first-person narrator, relaying to the visitor Echecrates what transpired during Socrates' final day in prison. Through his account, the reader witnesses Socrates' philosophical discussions and his calm acceptance of the death sentence.
How does the Phaedo end?
The narrative closes with Socrates drinking the hemlock and passing away quietly, after which Phaedo describes the friends' sorrow and their quiet departure from the prison. Socrates' final instruction is a small, wry reminder to Crito to settle a debt owed to Asclepius in the form of a rooster.
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Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Phaedo (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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