Phaedo A Platonic Labyrinth

by Ronna Burger

Since antiquity the Phaedo has been considered the source of "the twin pillars of Platonism" – the theory of ideas and the immortality of the soul. Burger’s attempt to trace the underlying argument of the work as a whole leads to a radical rethinking of the status of those doctrines. The movement of that argument is marked by the structural division of the dialogue into two halves, linked and separated by a central interlude in which Socrates warns against the great danger of "misology," or loss of trust in logos. That danger, which threatens the very possibility of philosophic inquiry, comes to overshadow the threat posed by the fear of death, which motivated the original series of arguments. The turn this necessitates, from the first to the second half of the dialogue, brings about a transformation of the understanding of knowledge, the ideas, the soul, death, and immortality. With this "second sailing," as Socrates calls it, the "Platonism" presented in the Phaedo emerges as precisely the target of which the dialogue is a critique.

Genres: Philosophy

310 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1985

About the author

Ronna C. Burger is an American philosopher and Professor of Philosophy, Catherine & Henry J. Gaisman Chair, and Sizeler Professor of Jewish Studies at Tulane University.

Reviews

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's easy to see the Benardete influence on Burger -- extremely detailed analyses that sometimes trail off into the ether but always (well, usually) come back to earth. Her prose hangs together better than Benardete's and is easier to read, which is a good thing because Phaedo is a complicated dialogue. This is not to say that this is an easy analysis to digest, because it isn't. The commentary helps to illuminate the trail through the labyrinth, but it is still very dim in places -- perhaps intentionally so.

I hope Yale will reprint this title soon so I can add a copy to my library -- I'm sure I will return to it, but not at the ridiculous price that vendors of used copies are asking online.

[Will Spohn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. Burger is lucid and extremely close to the text. The commentary style is great for aid with particular passages. Must read for anyone trying to make sense of Plato.