A Study of The Case for The Soul not Dying I Phaedo by Plato

The Cyclical Argument

In Plato’s Phaedo, three arguments are made for the immortality of the human soul. The first argument, known as the Cyclical Argument, suggests that the soul passes from the living to the dead and then back from the dead to the living, in a sort of perpetual cycle. Plato elaborates on this by stating, "Yes, he said. And there are many other processes, such as division and composition, cooling and heating, which equally involve a passage into and out of one another. And this holds of all opposites, even though not always expressed in words—they are generated out of one another, and there is a passing or process from one to the other of them?" (Plato, Phaedo, p. 454). This cycle implies that all things are created through their opposites. For instance, something small can only become big through increasing, and vice versa. Without these opposite processes, only one state would exist. Hence, living and dead are opposite states, and everything living must become dead, while everything dead must become living. The human soul is part of a cycle, continuously oscillating between living and dead. When the body dies, the soul becomes dead and then revives as it enters a new body. This cyclical nature is foundational to understanding the soul's immortality.

The Argument from Recollection

The second argument, the Argument from Recollection, is more intricate. Plato posits, "If it is true that we acquired our knowledge before our birth, and lost it at the moment of birth, but afterward, by the exercise of our senses upon sensible objects, recover the knowledge which we had once before, I suppose that what we call learning will be the recovery of our own knowledge, and surely we should be right in calling this recollection" (Plato, Phaedo, 75e-76). This suggests that humans are born with knowledge obtained in previous lives. When one sees something and recollects information about it, it indicates pre-existing knowledge. Thus, the soul must have existed before birth for one to recall past knowledge. Without the soul's preexistence, humans wouldn't have prior knowledge or the ability to recollect memories from past lives. This argument reinforces the idea that the soul has lived before and will continue to live again.

The Affinity Argument

The third argument for the soul's immortality is the Affinity Argument. Plato states, "But the soul, the invisible part, which goes away to a place that is, like itself, glorious, pure, and invisible—the true Hades or unseen world—into the presence of the good and wise God, where, if God so wills, my soul must shortly go—will it, if its very nature is such as I have described, be dispersed and destroyed at the moment of its release from the body, as is the popular view?" (Plato, Phaedo, 80d-e). Here, Plato distinguishes the body and the soul as separate entities. The body is mortal and ever-changing, while the soul is immortal and constant. When the body dies, the soul transitions to an immortal, invisible world. However, if corrupted by bodily influences, the soul risks remaining with the deceased body. Only through philosophical training can the soul maintain its immortality after bodily death. This argument highlights the need for philosophical knowledge to ensure the soul's continuation in the immortal realm, emphasizing the soul's enduring nature.

Conclusion

In Phaedo, Plato employs three arguments—the Cyclical Argument, the Argument from Recollection, and the Affinity Argument—to advocate for the immortality of the soul. The Cyclical Argument emphasizes the soul's perpetual cycle through generations of lives. The Argument from Recollection underscores humans' ability to recall events from previous lives. The Affinity Argument presents the concept of two separate worlds for the soul and body. Together, these arguments form a comprehensive case for the soul's immortality in Phaedo. Plato's work invites readers to contemplate the soul's eternal nature and the philosophical insights required to understand this profound concept.