This entire Dialogue is devoted to the idea that death should be a borderline pleasant experience because it releases what really matters--the soul--from what hinders it--the body/earthly things. This is a common idea called the Theory of Forms. The Theory of Forms is laid out at the top of page 103. Although Socrates was not a polytheist in the traditional way, I argue that he wasn't a Christian, either. All of the characteristics that most mistake as him being a Christian actually point to what turns into Platonism (with a few tweaks). In the second and third century, these same ideas (that the body only hinders the soul) is adopted by the Gnostics. It's not an idea that is solely held by Christians. That being said, I can see why people think Plato was a Christian-before-Christ, but I don't think Socrates was. Thoughts?
I commented on Darby and Francesca's posts.
That is definitely interesting to see how what we think of as Christian ideas appearing before the birth of Christ.
ReplyDeleteWith the forewarning that I am not very well educated on some of the theories you mentioned, I would argue that Socrates is in fact a Christian-before-Christ. He believes in the spirit/soul/suce leaving the body and ascending, or in his case, descending, to the underworld. He also believes that the body is just a keeper of the soul and will return to dust when we are dead. He also talks of how death should not be feared because we have the chance to meet our loved ones again and be eternally happy dwelling with the gods. All of these are very Christian ideals.
ReplyDeleteI agree Natalie. Socrates misses the fact that it is our soul is evil too. When we rebelled against God, our entire being, including our souls, sinned. Socrates could not have been a Christian in any form if he believed that humans are good in any way. The only way that he could have been a Christian before Christ was if he had believed that the Messiah was coming to save us from God's wrath against us for our sins.
ReplyDeleteSaying that the experience of death is "pleasant" is a bit of an overstatement. In no way do I truly believe that Socrates was not afraid of his own death, no real man would; not even the Spartans of that time who fought until their last breath would say they weren't scared of battle at one point and fearing death. The only way I see death being "pleasant" for Socrates is because he is told how he will die. As for the rest of us, I'd say we fear death because when don't know how or when we are going to die. On the Theory of Forms, I'd venture to say that based on his thoughts and questions at that time that Socrates really didn't know how to describe the soul. It was immortal, but mortal in a sense of recollection abilities. It was eternal, but finite in that we only know what we know the soul has gone through. And the soul is considered pure, but it embodies us so it should also be considered impure.
ReplyDeleteSaying that the experience of death is "pleasant" is a bit of an overstatement. In no way do I truly believe that Socrates was not afraid of his own death, no real man would; not even the Spartans of that time who fought until their last breath would say they weren't scared of battle at one point and fearing death. The only way I see death being "pleasant" for Socrates is because he is told how he will die. As for the rest of us, I'd say we fear death because when don't know how or when we are going to die. On the Theory of Forms, I'd venture to say that based on his thoughts and questions at that time that Socrates really didn't know how to describe the soul. It was immortal, but mortal in a sense of recollection abilities. It was eternal, but finite in that we only know what we know the soul has gone through. And the soul is considered pure, but it embodies us so it should also be considered impure.
ReplyDelete