Friday, July 6, 2012

PHAEDO

 Phaedo, the disciple of Socrates, describes his last discussion to Echerates. Socrates lived his life bravely and accepted the death bravely. All of his family members and the disciple couldn’t tolerate his death but he consoled them with his soothing words. He believed in his life after death. According to him death is inevitable. We have to meet the ultimate truth of death, so we shouldn’t worry and get afraid of death. We should live meaningful life by following the path of truth and the god.Socrates believed in the concept of ‘hereafter.’ He believed that when someone is dead, only his body is dead. The soul is eternal. After death, the soul is separated from the body and ascends to heaven. He doesn’t give any importance to dead body since it is nothing after the soul is released from the body. That’s why he asked his disciples to bury his dead body as they wish to bury. The god is powerful. The god only welcomes pure soul in the heaven. If we commit sinful act, the gate to heaven is closed for us. So, we should win the heavenly glory by following truth and reality in life.As Socrates lived bravely, he accepted the death bravely. He drank the cup of hemlock happily in front of his disciples. He could save his life by begging excuses to the authority, but the truth was dearer to him than his life. Before dying, Socrates asked Crito to offer cock to Asclepius. It was the Greek custom to make an offering to the divine healer, Asclepius after recovery from illness. According to Socrates, he was recovering, not dying. He was just entering into next heavenly life. Thus, Socrates was the bravest, the wisest and the most upright man of all the time.       

 Interpretation : Socrate's  sayings are focused here. He says that we should follow the true path of life . He further says that a dead body can be buried or burned . It makes no difference to the person because he/she, after death, is already gone to another world - heaven. Finally , he says that we do not gain anything just by enjoying a few hours when we know that there is no life any longer. He says  that , the sooner a person dies, the sooner he goes the heaven and there he/she has real pleasure of life.

Critical thinking : According to Socrate's there is another world after life as heaven but this saying is contradictory because nobody has proved yet the existence of another world - heaven or hell; therefore , to argue against this saying the the sooner one dies, the sooner he goes to the heaven , or speaking in favour  of this saying is useless. Practically, or  by reasoning , one cant believe such thing happens ,but religiously , such type of talk is very common.

Assimilation : In the present  world of materialism ,many people do not have faith on religion or on gods , or on heaven , but rather they enjoy all kinds of thing which are found immediately in their surrounding . Yet there are some people, though very small in number , talking about the true path of life. Lord Buddha, Mahatma Gandhi and others have been seen in this world who followed the true path of life for the sake of truth, and for the sense of humanity, they sacrificed their comforts and life . I dont think they had any vision of heaven, but they did have true and virtual souls. 

Que.    Do you accept Socrates ' belief in the hereafter' ? If you share his views, what might a contemporary biologist say about them? what might a Hindu feel about Socrates indifference to the manner in which his corpse will be disposed of?

  Socrates has a strong belief on the life after death. He believes that after his death , his soul will go to the heaven . He says that when he drinks poison , he will remain  no longer in this world but will depart to a state of  heavenly happiness . He believes that there is spiritual life after worldly life .God is almighty . He is omnipresent . He sees everything and he is the supreme judge. The gate of heaven will be closed and he is the supreme judge .The gate of heaven will be closed for those who involve in the misdeeds in this world . Socrates believes that the ultimate punishment or reward will be given by God. He believes in the hereafter and always involves in the meaningful activities .He always walks on the path of truth , justice and humanity .He is not afraid of death as it is the natural process which comes to everyone. He lives bravely and dies bravely. I accept the views and beliefs of Socrates. A contemporary biologist doesnt believe on afterlife .  In the modern  scientific world , hardly any people believe on the existence of heaven and hell. Nobody knows what happens after death. Biologists say that life ends with death. Religious people believe that another life begins with death. Like Socrates , i also believe that our soul doesnt die though our body dies and becomes soil. Our soul is tested by god and we are sent either to heaven or hell. If all the people have belief on afterlife and are afraid of god , they will involve in the good deeds and world itself will be the heaven.

Socrates shows indifference to the manner in which his corpse will be disposed of . When his disciples ask him how they should bury him,  Socrates  replies that they should dispose of him in whatever way they like. For him, when the soul departs the body ,he dead body is insignificant . The dead body is decayed and becomes soil . The soul will enter another world .However , a Hindu thinks differently. According to Hinduism , if a dead boby is not well disposed of , he/she will go to hell, instead of heaven.

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