Chapter 16 - Plato's theory of immortality

(Originally written July 11, 2016 in Book 26)

History of Western Philosophy
Bertrand Russell

Chapter 16: Plato's theory of immortality

Socrates is shown by Plato not to fear death. He is wrongly condemned, but will not escape (which the Athenians who convicted him might have preferred) because he would then be returning injustice for injustice. Neither will he commit suicide because, "There is a doctrine whispered in secret that man is a prisoner who has no right to open the door and run away" (Russell, 134).

Socrates is convinced (as much as possible) he will encounter gods who are wise and good in the afterlife. He is also, though less so, convinced he will encounter good men as well.

Death for Socrates is the separation of body and soul.

"The distinction between mind and matter, which has become a commonplace in philosophy, science and popular thought, has a religious origin, and began as the distinction of soul and body" (Russell, 134).

For the Platonic Socrates, existence is revealed through ure thought and not through the senses. "The soul in herself must behold things in themselves: and then we shall attain the wisdom which we desire, and of which we say we are lovers; not while we live, but after death: for while in comany with the body the soul cannot have pure knowledge, knowledge must be attained after death, if at all" (Russell, 137).

Socrates reasons for believing in the survival of the soul after death:
1) Opposites generate one another. Life generates death. Death generates life.
2) Knowledge is recollection (hence we know what things like true equality or logical truths are without experiencing them)

The soul of the philosopher (the one who disdains the body for truth) will depart the body and enter into bliss with the gods. The impure soul will restlessly haunt as a ghost or enter the body of an animal.

The fate of souls after heaven:
good -> Heaven
Bad -> Hell
Intermediate -> Purgatory