Ideas from 'Phaedo' by Plato [374 BCE], by Theme Structure

[found in 'Complete Works' by Plato (ed/tr Cooper,John M.) [Hackett 1997,0-87220-349-2]].

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1. Philosophy / A. Wisdom / 1. Nature of Wisdom

354	Wisdom makes virtue and true goodness possible

1. Philosophy / D. Nature of Philosophy / 5. Aims of Philosophy / b. Philosophy as transcendent

370	Philosophy is a purification of the soul ready for the afterlife

2. Reason / A. Nature of Reason / 3. Pure Reason

350	In investigation the body leads us astray, but the soul gets a clear view of the facts

24226

The soul on its own enters a pure, unchanging and eternal realm, and experiences wisdom

2. Reason / A. Nature of Reason / 7. Status of Reason

362	The greatest misfortune for a person is to develop a dislike for argument

2. Reason / C. Styles of Reason / 1. Dialectic

24264

Cebes responds critically to every idea he hears

2. Reason / F. Fallacies / 3. Question Begging

24276

If you want to discover facts, don't muddle the start of enquiry with its conclusion

6. Mathematics / A. Nature of Mathematics / 4. Using Numbers / f. Arithmetic

13155

If you add one to one, which one becomes two, or do they both become two?

8. Modes of Existence / A. Relations / 2. Internal Relations

21347

If Simmias is taller than Socrates, that isn't a feature that is just in Simmias

8. Modes of Existence / D. Universals / 6. Platonic Forms / a. Platonic Forms

360	We must have a prior knowledge of equality, if we see 'equal' things and realise they fall short of it

24270

If we perceive equals, we need prior knowledge of the equal in itself

24230

The Forms arise whenever we talk of something 'in itself'.

24225

Things like the Equal and the Beautiful, which are real, must be unchanging

8. Modes of Existence / D. Universals / 6. Platonic Forms / b. Partaking

368	Other things are named after the Forms because they participate in them

24227

One and one can only become two by sharing in Twoness

1	There is only one source for all beauty

8. Modes of Existence / D. Universals / 6. Platonic Forms / d. Forms critiques

24275

Whether things are large or small needs the Forms of largeness and smallness

9. Objects / E. Objects over Time / 9. Ship of Theseus

16516

The ship which Theseus took to Crete is now sent to Delos crowned with flowers

12. Knowledge Sources / A. A Priori Knowledge / 3. Innate Knowledge / b. Recollection doctrine

357	People are obviously recollecting when they react to a geometrical diagram

359	If we feel the inadequacy of a resemblance, we must recollect the original

12. Knowledge Sources / A. A Priori Knowledge / 6. A Priori from Reason

9343	To achieve pure knowledge, we must get rid of the body and contemplate things with the soul

12. Knowledge Sources / B. Perception / 1. Perception

24272

Philosophy reveals that the senses are extremely deceptive

13. Knowledge Criteria / A. Justification Problems / 1. Justification / b. Need for justification

24271

If a man knows something, he can give an account of it

14. Science / D. Explanation / 2. Types of Explanation / g. Causal explanations

15859

To investigate the causes of things, study what is best for them

14. Science / D. Explanation / 2. Types of Explanation / k. Explanations by essence

24279

We no longer explain a hot body by 'heat', but by its containing fire

15. Nature of Minds / A. Nature of Mind / 8. Brain

13154

Do we think and experience with blood, air or fire, or could it be our brain?

15. Nature of Minds / C. Capacities of Minds / 7. Seeing Resemblance

24269

When lovers see a beloved's lyre, they immediately think of the beloved

16. Persons / D. Continuity of the Self / 1. Identity and the Self

364	One soul can't be more or less of a soul than another

18. Thought / D. Concepts / 1. Concepts / b. Concepts in philosophy

24278

Threeness brings up oddness, which won't admit evenness

22. Metaethics / C. The Good / 3. Pleasure / e. Role of pleasure

361	It is a mistake to think that the most violent pleasure or pain is therefore the truest reality

23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 3. Virtues / b. Temperance

24266

Normal temperance - scorn and control of desires - needs contempt of the body, and wisdom

24267

Well-ordering is not temperance; it is just fear of pleasure becoming excessive

23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 4. External Goods / c. Wealth

351	War aims at the acquisition of wealth, because we are enslaved to the body

25. Social Practice / F. Life Issues / 4. Suicide

24262

Sometimes, and for some people, death is better than life

24263

We belong to the gods, and only kill ourselves if they indicate some necessity

26. Natural Theory / C. Causation / 2. Types of cause

13156

Fancy being unable to distinguish a cause from its necessary background conditions!

26. Natural Theory / D. Laws of Nature / 8. Scientific Essentialism / a. Scientific essentialism

24277

Snow ceases to be snow if it admits the hot; it is the same if fire admits the cold

27. Natural Reality / E. Cosmology / 1. Cosmology

369	If the Earth is spherical and in the centre, it is kept in place by universal symmetry, not by force

29. Religion / D. Religious Issues / 2. Immortality / a. Immortality

24268

It is a common fear that the soul may entirely disperse immediately after death

24273

Simmias fears that the beautiful soul is attunement of the body, and dies with it

363	Whether the soul pre-exists our body depends on whether it contains the ultimate standard of reality

24274

Critias thinks soul survives death into another body, but that process may still terminate

29. Religion / D. Religious Issues / 2. Immortality / d. Heaven

24265

After death I expect to join the wise gods, and good men