PLATO, LAST DAYS OF SOCRATES, PT. 3
PHAEDO (b)
pp. 146-191

STUDY QUESTIONS

1. What does Simmias’ attunement attempt to demonstrate regarding the soul (86a)?

2. What is the point of Cebes story of the tailor and the coat?

3. How are some people brought to misology?

4. What is Socrates argument against the attunement theory?

5. What is Socrates argument against Cebes?

6. Why is it natural that Socrates had an interest in mathematics and natural science when he was young?

7. Explain Socrates’ difficulties with Anaxagoras’ views.

8.  Explain this line- "being unable to distinguish between the reason for a thing, and the condition without which the reason couldn’t be operative" (99b).

9. What does Socrates mean by saying, "...it is by Beauty that beautiful things are beautiful"(100d)?

10. What does it mean to become two by "sharing in duality"(101c)?

11. How is it that Simmias can be both tall and short?

12. Explain Socrates’ use of opposites in his explanation of the immortality of the soul (105d).

13. Recount Socrates view of the "layered earth".

14. Does Socrates really believe in this view?