When discussing why philosophers desire death, Socrates mentions that when one departs with the body, one is hoping to go to a place where the gods (who are certainly better than him) and good men reside (perhaps, but maybe not). Consequently, it is foolish for someone who is wise, to shrink from the face of death. Why should anyone fear good company? Therefore, philosophy prepares one for death in which a being tries as best as possible to deny the body's desires and live accordingly to the soul. Thus, as one is still alive one cannot completely purify, or "attain" self-knowledge, because the body plagues the soul with its lusts, desires, needs, and distractions. As the soul is detached from the body (in death), is when it can truly gain self knowledge. Living as the mind does is the highest form of knowledge.
This concept of death in the Phaedo strengthens my own religious beliefs about death. I agree with Socrates' idea of trying to live as someone who is free of the body. I translate this as not indulging in anger, greed, and pride. As a slave of anger one is bound by overwhelming feeling, which does cloud the rationality of human beings-anger destroys and distorts reality. Greed engenders selfishness which in turn breeds poverty, corruption, imperialism, and inflation. Pride is a disease of the heart which inflicts its victim quietly and unnoticed preventing one from seeing the beauty of humility. Humility is a principle trait which forgives and gives generously, which sees past oneself, which submits willfully because this is its freedom. This is like living without the body. This is easier said then done, but when one is equipped with a way to achieve death peacefully and completely, then one can approach life with a plan. But maybe, even, the best laid plans of mice and men do not work.
This is a beautifully written blog post. I agree with you when you say that one should not fear death because there are very few people who don't want to be in good company! Assuming that Socrate's notion of death is accurate, which I believe it plausible, then no one should fear death. And, regardless of what one believes that death is, I completely agree that living one's material life to the fullest in the sense of virtue is probably the best way to go. I do have a question for you... do you really think that a fear of death is necessarily a bad thing? I ask this because fear is a driving factor for many people. It is, many times, one's fear of death which leads him or her to act virtuously in one's own material existence.
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