Is Death a Good Thing? - Socrates and the Relationship Between Philosophy and Death

 

For the average person, the idea of an inevitable death creates a sense of fear. Often we live life as if we are immortal, when in reality our time on this earth dwindles down every single day. This fear of death stems from a fear of the unknown because no one knows what exactly happens to us after we pass away. In the dialogue "Phaedo", by philosopher Plato, Socrates argues that a true philosopher should look forward to death and essentially view it as a good thing.

Socrates creates a correlation between death and the gift of life that God granted humans. First off, Socrates condemns the idea of suicide as we are a "possession" of "the Gods", so our time on this earth is not our choice but theirs (Plato 4). Essentially, Socrates states that although suicide is wrong, a true philosopher should look forward to death when it is their time. 

Relationship between Philosophy and Death

Socrates believes that death is essentially just the separation of the soul and body (Plato 6) . He goes on to state how a philosopher's objective is to use the body as a mere vesicle for the soul, and ultimately use the body for tasks that nature demands it too (eating, drinking, sleeping, etc.). The philosopher's prime focus is the well being of the soul, because it is the soul that is immortal. So a philosopher essentially spends their life training to separate the soul from the needs of the body. 

Socrates goes on to claim that "true existence" must come solely from thought and is found best when one is not troubled with the distractions of the body (Plato 8). Socrates views the body as a troublesome source of evil that hinders us from searching for the truth. Death allows for that freedom. After our soul is no longer tethered to a body, the soul becomes pure. Therefore, one should not fear death, because it is only with death that we are cleansed from the mundane, measly satisfactions such as power and greed that are associated with pleasures of the body. 

I agree with Socrates view on the pleasures of the body vs the soul. It is logical to think that if we all live life working to satisfy our body, there is not much good we can achieve. It is this way of thinking that creates materialistic greed and jealousy. Therefore, if one lived only to experience the physical pleasures of life then death would in fact be scary for them because after death, they have nothing to look forward too. On the other hand, if we live life working to satisfy the soul, then death would not be something that is feared but welcomed as liberation. Although I agree with a lot of his argument, I do believe that to an extent it is okay to enjoy physical pleasures of the body. As long as one can remember the distinction that the body serves as vesicle for life and is not life itself, they should be safe from getting caught up in the physical pleasures of the body.