Plato, Phaedo | Does the Soul Wear Out? Arguments For and Against | Philosophy Core Concepts

[@brandonadams7682]

I am 30 years old and started attending college at the beginning of this spring semester, your videos have helped me grasp the ideas that the dialogues put forth. I just wanted to thank you for that.

[@GregoryBSadler]

You're very welcome - and congratulations on starting college!

[@GregoryBSadler]

Thanks! Glad you enjoy them so much

[@SeanFilmHouse]

This video is great Gregory, really appreciate your videos they're much better than any other philosophical videos on KZbin! Great work!

[@GregoryBSadler]

Thanks! That's some very high praise

[@ishikawaml]

You're a hell of a teacher, Dr.Sadler. I envy your students.

[@DotDotDotjr]

a very compelling twist on a brilliant text.

[@Hajjmusic_]

Thank so much. What a great supplement to the text.

[@GregoryBSadler]

You're very welcome!

[@GregoryBSadler]

Thanks! Very nice to read

[@leavemebe1219]

great video, thank u so much!

[@GregoryBSadler]

You're welcome!

[@GregoryBSadler]

new Core Concept video

[@GregoryBSadler]

Thanks!

[@ezzietek]

I intentionally did not watch this video before making my video response to your lecture. I really struggled with reading and understanding the Phaedo. After watching this, I can see what you were kind of hinting at in your handout. However, I am still as unsure as I was before about what I observed as a flaw in Plato's argument. I don't know if you got a chance to watch my video. If you did, am I just way out in left field somewhere?

[@Sufyan200]

Thank you. I read many articles about this argument but I am still struggling to understand it, it is very difficult argument and I don't understand it.

[@GregoryBSadler]

Glad it was helpful

[@aronianspigonian8589]

You avoided explaining the numerical example Socrates gives to Cebes. This is the only aspect of the dialogue that was confusing to me. Although you said that you don’t want to explain this aspect, please forgive me for asking of an explanation on the account of this. I sort of grasp the numerical aspect, but it’s hard to expel logical reservations such at 8+2 is not 10 which Socrates explicitly says is an idea to be feared. Do you know of an explanation of this aspect of the Phaedo? This has been my favorite dialogue so far, and it would be shameful to not fully understand my favorite one!

[@GregoryBSadler]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/oYTRqamkp6h7gtk

[@ruiliu9561]

Does the middle sized guy Simmias participate in both Tallness and Shortness for it to be both tall and short? If so that's contradicting with what comes after on how opposite forms are mutually exclusive, right? I think I must have understood the example of Tallness and Shortness incorrectly.

[@GregoryBSadler]

How's that relevant to this video and this part of the text?

[@ruiliu9561]

​@@GregoryBSadler Thanks for replying! So as I understand the argument, the soul doesn't die because the soul has Life (form) only, and due the mutal exclusiveness between Life and Death, when Death approaches, the soul for whatever reason is indestructible and leaves together with Life. So the argument relies on the mutual exclusiveness between opposite forms. Now consider Tallness and Shortness are mutual exclusive forms, how do we explain someone can be both tall and short, i.e. has both Tallness and Shortness in it? That would be contradicting with the assumption right? Since Tallness and Shortness are opposite forms.

[@GregoryBSadler]

​@@ruiliu9561 The easy answer is that a person goes from tall to short or vice versa because that kind of thing can go from one opposite to another. Doesn't work that way with all forms and things. And if you read other Platonic dialogues, you're going to see that tall and short aren't really forms

[@ruiliu9561]

@@GregoryBSadler Can I ask what other dialogue talks about tallness and shortness are not forms? I read this part of Phaedo multiple times and it's confusing...It seems that there're three things involved: person, tallness, Tallness. It seems that the tallness is something similar but different to the Tallness (form) that doesn't admit shortness / Shortness?

[@ruiliu9561]

If tallness doesn't admit shortness, how can a person has both tallness and shortness?

[@kymcarter589]

There seems to be a lot of cross over between the early Greek thinkers and early Buddhist thought. For example the cessation of the soul of philosophers who are accomplished, or the possibility of reincarnation.

[@GregoryBSadler]

I wouldn't call it "cross-over" since that implies that there was actual contact between early Greek and early Buddhist thought -- historically unlikely, until after the conquests of Alexander. There are a few parallels -- but reincarnation was not a widely accepted idea among the early Greeks. And, there were plenty of other ancient people besides Indians who did speculate about it. So, the best one can say is that there are a few interesting parallels. Notice, though, that Plato is not proposing a cessation of the soul at all -- it gets to exist for good, with the gods, contemplating the forms -- and it does exist. Very different than the early Buddhist conception of nirvana

[@GregoryBSadler]

@jaden watson Yes, there's a lot of examples of parallel discoveries or doctrines

[@salcarusomusic]

Excellent !! LOVE your stuff doc' ... & thank you for giving back / sharing your knowledge freely with mankind {living souls = men / women not corps.[fictional creations] ... ha-ha . Peace / LOVE

[@LG-jz3tj]

We are eternal! Our body tires out but never the soul. I believe in reincarnation too.

[@GregoryBSadler]

If Plato's right. . .

[@LG-jz3tj]

@@GregoryBSadler I believe as God is spirit so are we. I believe God. God always sends messengers to inform us of these truths, but mankind needs proof. Believe in the unseen as its eternal. I have had many questions answered thru dreams just by asking and believing its amazing. My own family has been blessed with being able to see spirit I cant see but I can hear and thru dreams. Believe with all your heart and soul and God will reveal things to you but not until you are truly ready for it.

[@wildbad]

the "Ideal" Large and small etc. introduce unnecessary complications. I don't see their utility. I believe he comes to the correct conclusion nevertheless. The usage of terms is confusing process with object in my opinion.

[@GregoryBSadler]

Unfortunate for you, I guess