by Bertie Radcliffe

Created on: March 13, 2009   Last Updated: March 14, 2009

As one would expect, Plato's portrayal of Socrates in those parts of the Phaedo that I have read is immensely positive. In the time before Socrates execution, Plato seems to attempt to show how far from being a dangerous, unwanted element; Socrates is the paragon of all things good about Athenian values and customs. Plato achieves this in three ways: the portrayal of Socrates as pious; the display of Socrates prodigious intelligence and courage; and the demonstration of his worth as a friend and teacher.

Despite the fact that one of the two charges of which Socrates was found guilty was that of believing in different gods to those of the state, in the Phaedo, Plato portrays Socrates as an incredibly pious man. In his last days on earth, Socrates is shown in the Phaedo to be ensuring that he has carried out the will of the gods, as expressed in his recurring dream, to its full extent. Whereas before he had interpreted the command to "make art" as encouragement to continue with philosophy, "the greatest art of all", now he knows that the end is near, he covers other possibilities, writing a Hymn to Apollo and poems based on Aesop's fables in an attempt to make sure that he has pleased the gods. Similarly, Socrates condemns suicide, because "they say that this is not right". He does this despite the fact that he is of the belief that he would be better off dead. This, again, shows Socrates piety and religious orthodoxy. This display of piety is doubtless one that outlines Socrates, as he is in the Phaedo, as an intensely pious man, a very important facet of the picture that emerges from the dialogue.

Of Socrates formidable intelligence there can be no doubt. He was, after all, recognised as the greatest philosopher of his time. Indeed, his intelligence is such that he has been able to attract pupils from other parts of Greece: Cebes at one stage speaks in his own, foreign, dialect. This is not the only evidence of Socrates wisdom. In the Phaedo, it seems that Socrates pronounces statements that seem to be illogical, draw out the objections of his friends, but are in fact, as Socrates always manages to prove, correct. A good example of such an ostensibly false conclusion is that at the beginning of the dialogue, when Socrates claims that "those who would be better off dead may not without sin do themselves a good turn. Despite this seemingly illogical conclusion, Socrates proceeds to demonstrate to his sceptical students the validity of his argument. Additionally,

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