Table of Contents

Acknowledgments I. Introduction The Issues of the Phaedo Mode of Interpretation II. The Defense of Socrates Overview The Opening Scene Socrates' Poetic Defense of Philosophy Philosophy as Preparation for Death III. The Proofs of Immortality Overview Opposites Recollection Likeness Objections IV. Socrates' 'Second Sailing Overview Misology Socrates' Reply to Simmias: Soul as Harmonia Socrates' Reply to Cebes: The Second Sailing Socrates' varying views of nature The 'second sailing' V. Socrates' Final Teaching Overview Immortality and Imperishability The True Earth The Death of Socrates VI. Conclusion Notes Bibliography Index

About the Author

Paul Stern is Assistant Professor of Politics at Ursinus College.

Reviews

"This is a fine piece of work. The overall organization is clear and sensible and this is matched by a scrupulous attention to detail. Stern is extremely well versed in the secondary literature and quite sensitive to all of the differences in interpretation. Above all, Stern knows how to read Plato. The book reads like a thriller-at least for someone who cares about the possibility of philosophy and sees that Stern is dealing with this central issue." - Christopher Colmo, Rosary College "Stern has written a careful, exceptionally clear, eminently readable interpretation of Plato's Phaedo. He disputes the accepted philosophic reading of the dialogue as an 'early' statement of Plato's theory of ideas quite convincingly." - Catherine Zuckert, Carleton College