Socrates On Philosophy and Death

[Mudhammam]

I am reluctant to project modern notions of existential angst back onto ancient cultures. At least one of the historical figures you quoted, Cicero, was an initiate of a Hellenistic mystery cult. It is also likely that ancient readers of the Platonic dialogues would have recognized some characters as representing beliefs derived from such rituals. Likewise, some New Testament scholars read St. Paul as heavily influenced by gnostic ideas if not tacitly a Gnostic himself (a controversial idea, but not one without merit). Taking these gnostic or mystery cult influences into account, it would be fair to interpret the Socratic statement as preparation of the soul for liberation from its bondage to the physical body --- uniting one’s self not with the fickle gods governing the earthly plane (a frequent target of Plato) – but with Abraxas, the “God above god” And what exactly is the Platonic realm if not those higher principles (the Good, the True, the All) that transcend even the pantheon of common worship. As such rational contemplation, as exemplified by Plato's Socrates, serves as either a supplement to mystery cult rituals or perhaps an alternate path for preparing the soul to permanently break away from material embodiment upon death.

Fair point.  I only briefly mention the Socratic concept (that certainly doesn't originate with him) of the body as a prison, which, as you stated, was tied up in Greek beliefs about the transmigration of souls and the myths -- with obvious ethical implications that proved influential on those groups I mentioned (perhaps even Christ himself and his willingness to die as a "blood sacrifice") -- regarding ultimate liberation from the body.  I guess I was more attempting to answer the question, "What can Socrates words mean for us today?" or "What does his statement suggest for me?" in the broader context of Philosophy.

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I think holding that death is the end is the most dangerous, for what to prepare for if death is the end? Especially if rationally the immateriality of the human soul can be demonstrated?

Why not prepare to live the best life possible? Or to make the world a better place for your loved ones or your children? An object is not more white the longer it remains white. Why should time be assumed to have just that effect on the value of a finite existence (is the intensity of pleasures and pains judged on the basis of their duration? No. I see no reason to judge the value of something exclusively by that measure.)

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1. Concepts are Universals.

2. Matter are Particulars.

3. By 1 and 2, Concepts are not material.

4. Man can conceived concepts.

5. The effect cannot be greater than the cause.

6. By 4 and 5, man has a non-material aspect in him.

What does this demonstrate exactly?  Are you familiar with Cebes' argument about the lyre in Plato's Phaedo?