Immortality and the Nature of the Soul in the Phaedrus

Is there an answer to Socrates’ puzzle? Individuality, universality, and the self in Plato’s Phaedrus

“…I assume with the majority of interpreters that the Phaedrus postdates the Phaedo, the Republic, and the Symposium. Moreover, it has been plausibly argued that the myth of the palinode is in important respects close to Plato's later views found, notably, in the Laws: see Bett 1986. 8. Authors generally agree that the human soul as depicted in the Phaedrus is marked by considerable tension between the higher, rational element and the lower, non-rational elements.…”

The Wise Men: Notes on Plato’s Phaedrus

“…According to Professor Richard Bett [2], the demonstration that the madness of the lover is duly inspired encompasses both myth and proof, each being appropriated in different circumstances 2 . This seems to us to be adequate, since both the proof and the myth follow from the demonstration, which ends up answering our questioning A.…”

“…Early in the dialogue Phaedrus will ask Socrates if he persuades the Orithyia abduction myth is true [ὦ Σώκρατες, σὺ τοῦτο τὸ μυθολόγημα πείθῃ ἀληθὲς εἶναι;] (Phaedrus, 229c). In what Socrates will characterize the allegorical interpretation of the myth as 2 For larger details see note 3, p. 2 of Bett'sarticle (1986), where This one like this putsit: "This contrast should not be taken to imply que the proof is more important than the myth, or que the myth is not" real philosophy". In this connection, it is interesting that Plato uses the word ἀπόδειξις (245c1,4; cf.ἀποδεικτέον, b7) to refer simply to the proof of immortality, but to entire ensuing discussion; the "demonstration" is of the fact that the madness of the lover is divinely inspired, and is encompasses the myth as well as the proof.…”

Por que o filósofo escreve?: a prática reminiscente da escrita no >i<Fedro>/i< de Platão (274-277)

“…O uso apropriado da escrita, aliás, pode ter ganhos consideráveis; é este o tema da próxima parte. Bett (1986) faz uma boa reconstrução do argumento, que, propõe, está estruturado da seguinte forma: 1) Alma é aquilo que é fonte de seu próprio movimento.…”