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Asclepius For Death Analysis

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Readers of the Phaedo may be puzzled by Socrates’ last words, regarding the need for a sacrifice to Asclepius. Nietzsche famously argued that Socrates is thanking Asclepius for death, since life is such a disease. The reader may agree with this interpretation, because of Socrates’ final moments as he welcomes death with open arms. However, Socrates reflects on how the soul still lives on, even though the body does not, death just being the process of this occurrence. In this paper, I will argue against Nietzsche’s interpretation of his last words; Socrates apparently meaning that death is a cure for the ills of life, and offer my own interoperation; Socrates meaning that death is an illness and resurrection is the cure, and that the cock was used to thank Asclepius for new life. To advance this position, I will provide evidence, that will support my way of thinking, from Socrates’ arguments for the soul 's immortality: The Cyclical Argument, The Theory of Recollection Argument, The Affinity Argument, and The Argument from Form …show more content…

In order to gain this knowledge, to cycle it into the next life, living through one’s current life is a must. Living life is like learning a series of lessons to prepare one’s self for the next journey their soul takes on. This just goes to show why I believe Socrates’ appreciates life, while not being afraid of death. He uses his philosophical wisdom from this life, knowing that it has prepared him for the next he will take on. Socrates third argument for the immortality of the soul, the Affinity Argument, displays, that the body resembles that which is visible and mortal, while the soul resembles that which is invisible and holy. Because of this, it is said that while the body may be visible after death in the form of a corpse, as the body is mortal and the soul is godly, making the soul outlive the

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