Metaphysics
Novy SP10
Phaedo Handout
1. The body impedes the search for understanding:
a. Soul is the source of understanding;
b. The body distracts us with its demands
2. \To live well – through examination, reflection, and a commitment to
excellence – the body must be overcome.
3. Death is separation of the mind/soul from the body
4. A philosopher qua philosopher has been practicing this separation
5. \ With death comes the opportunity gain pure understanding
1. Those things that have an opposite come to be from their opposite
2. The opposite of “living” is “dead”
3. \ Living things come from the dead
4. The dead are in the underworld
5. We the living have souls
6. \Our souls existed in the underworld
7. \ Our souls exist prior to birth
1. If P could be reminded of X at T2, then P knew X at T1
(i.e., prior to T2)
2. P does recall X at T2
3. \ P knew X at T1
4. There is a time (say, T2) between the birth and death of P
such that P recalled the Form of Equality at that time
5. If P can recognize two things being/ not being equal at T2, P
knew the Form of Equality prior to T2.
6. Recollection at T2 requires knowing at T1
7. \P knew the Form of Equality at T1
8. P did not know of this Form of Equality at the time of birth
9. \T1 is prior to the moment of birth
10. \P knows the Form of Equality prior to birth
1. When confronted with change, composite things tend to break down into
component parts
2. Things that always remain the same and in the same state most likely are
not composite.
3. The Equal, Beautiful, etc. is unlikely to be affected by any change
whatsoever
4. The soul is more like these divine things than the body is.
5. \It is natural for the body to breakdown and for the soul to be
indissoluble
6. \The soul exists following death
1. Forms exist (Cold, Sickness, Beauty, etc.)
2. Form-bearers exist (snow, fever, proportionality, etc.)
3. Forms have their properties essentially (i.e., always, necessarily)
4. Form-bearers also have the properties of Forms essentially
5. Soul is the form-bearer of Life to the body
6. \Soul has the property of Life essentially
7. A form-bearer confronted by the opposite form retreats or is destroyed
a. When Chicago becomes warmer (partakes in the form Heat – Cold’s
opposite), snow (the form-bearer of cold) retreats or is destroyed (melts)
8. Death is the form opposite to Life
9. \When soul (the form-bearer life) is confronted by death of the body, it
must retreat or be destroyed
10. As soul has life essentially, the soul is deathless
11. \When the soul is confronted by death of the body, it retreats rather
than being destroyed
12. \The soul continues after the death of the body
13. \Care of the soul, by training & education, is of utmost importance
since it survives death