Notes 1/19/11

Brian Pena

Notes 1/19/11

Hellenistic Philosophy

One of the main topics of discussion from this 2^nd Wednesday class dealt with the philosopher’s preparation for death. In the Phaedo, Socrates states “that man who has really spent his life in philosophy is naturally of good courage when he is to die and has the strong hopes that when he is dead he will attain the greatest blessings in the other land.” Philosophy is suppose to be something that one takes part in up until the moment of death, for if that person maximizes their time in philosophical thought and discussion there is no need for fear during death.

Dr Layne then gave the “cheesecake” analogy, which I will try to explain in the best way possible (DO NOT TAKE AS DOGMATIC, OR WITH REAL CERTAINTY FOR THIS IS ONLY MY UNDERSTANDING). In order for someone to avoid a given, such as the desire for cheesecake, fully they must first have experienced its sensations, but eventually overcome the desire or fear, depending on the situation. This elimination of fear/desire is temperance and virtuous.

So when Socrates is speaking to Simmias and Cebes about their grief over his eventual consumption of hemlock, he shows them that he has no fear of death and neither should they, for if they pursue philosophy until their dying day they too will understand what it is not have virtue and temperance. He reiterates to these two that death will be far greater than any life, for that which give the power of thought in man will give even greater reasoning and understanding in the afterlife.

The Phaedo is a middle dialogue, which is more poetic than the earlier or later works of Plato. The Early are more focused on questions of piety and virtue, and the later are more in line with the ideas in the Sophists. This piece is similar to Alcibiades I with regard to its dialogue, Q&A format, and also its recognition of the importance of self knowledge, “know thyself: see thyself.” It also recognizes that material goods have nothing to do with who a person truly is.