Plato’s dialogues digested, and then spat back out again. In their most crude and basic form.
- Euthyphro – Socrates: I want to know what holiness is! Euthyphro: How about: holiness is what is loved by the gods? Socrates: There’s a whole load wrong with your definition there, and I’m going to point it out to you. Euthyphro: How about another one: holiness is service to the gods? Socrates: Nope, that just gets us back to your previous definition. Euthyphro: I give up. Socrates: Wait! Don’t leave! Oh ….
- Apology – Athenians: Soractes, you’ve been a naughty boy and now we’re going to sentence you to death. Socrates: Wait! I haven’t done those things you said I did. You’re all idiots! And hypocrites. And I am probably the wisest man in the world. But you’ll probably put me to death anyway, even though I’m innocent. Athenians: Actually, yes. Socrates: My friends will pay you to let me off! Athenians: Death! Socrates: Oh well, maybe death’s not so bad after all …
- Crito – Crito: For God’s sake, Socrates, let me help you escape from prison. You’re about to die! Socrates: Never! It is just to accept my fate, as by escaping I would break the social contract and harm society. And we can both agree that it is never right to deliberately cause harm. Crito: I can’t believe this … seriously? Socrates: Yes. Off you go!
- Phaedo – Socrates: I’m not so worried about death because I reckon my soul is immortal and going to the Good Place. Various friends: This is nuts! Prove it! Socrates: I will do so, and it has a lot to do with the Forms. Basically, there are these perfect objects in another realm that the soul has knowledge of before and after death, and all learning is just the soul remembering these forms. Since the purified soul will return to the perfect realm on death, and I have a pure soul from living a life of virtue and wisdom, it’s all good. (*Drinks poison*). Friends: Wait!….. Oh…..
Plato Digested 