Phaedo
On the last day of his life, the condemned philosopher Socrates spends his final hours calmly discussing the immortality of the soul with his grieving friends before drinking the hemlock. Through a series of arguments, Plato presents the case that death is not to be feared and that the soul survives the body—then closes with one of the most moving death scenes in all of literature. Serene, searching, and deeply humane, the Phaedo is a cornerstone of Western philosophy and a profound meditation on how to live and how to die. It has shaped thinking about the soul for over two millennia.
About the Author
Plato (c. 428-348 BC) was an ancient Greek philosopher, student of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle, and founder of the Academy in Athens. His dialogues are among the most influential works in the history of thought.
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