Platonic Seminar: Plato's "Phaedo"

About the Event

When Socrates hears the death sentence pronounced in court, he is not disturbed: he is, he tells the jury, of good hope that death is not an evil, but a good for him. In the Phaedo, Plato's dramatic account of Socrates' final moments, Socrates attempts to vindicate that hope, arguing that we have good reason to believe that the soul will survive death and—at least for those who have adequately prepared themselves by philosophy—that death is a benefit, since it is only after death that the philosophical soul can hope to achieve the knowledge for which it has longed and prepared itself. Is Socrates right? Should we be of good hope in the face of death? And how compelling are the arguments Socrates introduces in support of this hope?

Undergraduates, graduate students, and recent graduates are invited to join Zephyr this term as we explore these and other questions by reading through Plato's text together.

Schedule

We will meet bimonthly to read and discuss the text together over the course of four sessions:

• 8 April, 6:00–8:00pm

• 22 April, 6:00–8:00pm

• 6 May, 6:00–8:00pm

• 20 May, 6:00–8:00pm

No prior reading is required in advance of the first meeting. We will read the text together. Paperback copies of the Phaedo will be provided to all participants of the reading group at our first meeting. Dinner will be provided to all attendees.

Logistical details

Attendees need not come to all four sessions to attend. Those who miss earlier sessions should, however, remain current on the readings if they wish to come to later sessions.

Participants need sign up only once to attend all four sessions. If you sign up and are no longer able to make it to one or more of the sessions, please let Zephyr know so that we can plan accordingly.

About the speaker

Landon Hobbs is Research Fellow and Director of Academic Programs at the Zephyr Institute. His research focuses on Ancient Greek philosophy, especially the theoretical philosophy of Aristotle. He received his PhD from Stanford University in 2023 and is currently pursuing a research project on the content, justification, and use of the ancient metaphysical principle that the cause must precontain its effect.