Four Levels of the Story Phaedo (BBA | BBA-BI | BBA-TT | BCIS | BHCM | BHM First Semester.)

Phaedo

- Plato

Literal Comprehension

The philosophical story Phaedo written by Plato, a great Greek philosopher and disciple of Socrates is about Socrates’ death and his philosophy regarding death. With the help of the conversation between two characters Phaedo and Echecrates, the writer has mentioned all the details about Socrates’ death and his philosophy regarding death.

Phaedo and Echecrates were Socrates’ disciples. Phaedo knew everything about his teacher’s death, but Echecrates did not have any idea. So, he was very interested to know about Socrates’ death. After this, he started giving Echecrates all details about Socrates’ death. He informed him that Socrates was accused of misleading youths by the Greek government. Then he was sentenced to jail. Later, the government announced death penalty for him, so he was going to be killed very soon. But he was not killed until the ship returned from Delos to Greek.

After some time, on the day of Socrates’ execution, his many friends, relatives and disciples had gone to the jail. Everyone was worried for his death, but he was not frightened with his own death. Instead of being silent and panicked, Socrates started giving his visitors philosophy about soul. He told them that body is perishable, but soul never dies even after one’s death. After giving his philosophy about soul, he went to take a bath. Then again he returned to the same place. Finally, when his time for execution came, a prison officer brought water hemlock, which he had to drink. Then Socrates drank that poison laughingly. At last, as his last wish, he requested his friend, Crito to offer a rooster to the healing god, Asclepius.