Phaedo

Set in the last hours before Socrates drinks the hemlock, this dialogue turns his execution into a calm inquiry into whether the soul survives the death of the body. Surrounded by grieving friends, Socrates argues that a philosopher should not fear death, since the pursuit of wisdom is itself a preparation for the separation of soul from body. He and his companions Simmias and Cebes work through a series of arguments for the soul’s immortality, drawing in Plato’s theory of eternal Forms, before the quiet, unforgettable account of Socrates’ final moments. It stands among the most moving and influential texts in the history of philosophy. This free PDF and EPUB edition makes it available to every reader.