Bonus:
Better Philosophy than Plato
Summary: Non sequitur.
Commentary:
I hate these so much.
And they are right, Simmias, in thinking so, with the exception of the words 'they have found them out'; for they have not found out either what is the nature of that death which the true philosopher deserves, or how he deserves or desires death. But enough of them:—let us discuss the matter among ourselves: Do we believe that there is such a thing as death?
To be sure, replied Simmias.
OH HERE WE GO
Is it not the separation of soul and body? And to be dead is the completion of this; when the soul exists in herself, and is released from the body and the body is released from the soul, what is this but death?
Just so, he replied.
Yes, there is no other logical definition of death for an ancient Greek person. "When your heart stops beating for more than an hour" or whatever is clearly not reasonable.
There is another question, which will probably throw light on our present inquiry if you and I can agree about it:—Ought the philosopher to care about the pleasures—if they are to be called pleasures—of eating and drinking?
Certainly not, answered Simmias.
And what about the pleasures of love—should he care for them?
By no means.
And will he think much of the other ways of indulging the body, for example, the acquisition of costly raiment, or sandals, or other adornments of the body? Instead of caring about them, does he not rather despise anything more than nature needs? What do you say?
I should say that the true philosopher would despise them.
DESPISING IS CARING!
Would you not say that he is entirely concerned with the soul and not with the body? He would like, as far as he can, to get away from the body and to turn to the soul.
Quite true.
THAT IS DEFINITELY CARING!
I'm just gonna read this for 15 minutes a day until I'm done. That was the rule, right? Should be done by the end of the week.
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