Soul Immortality as Discussed by Socrates

Soul Immortality as Discussed by Socrates

The theory of forms holds that the elements of reality do not exist independently but are a
fabrication of ideas (Ross, 1951). In essence, this refers to the act of viewing things in an
idealistic form which is often impractical. Socrates argues that the soul does not cease to exist
once a human being dies. He states that the soul departs from the body and returns to the world
below. Socrates extensively uses his ideas to argue that the soul does not die along with the
human body. From his argument, the living comes from the dead. It shows that the souls which
return to the underworld are reborn into new beings when one is born.
The soul and the body are two different persons whose activities and interactions are
seemingly different. The body is engaged to the earthly desires while the soul maintains its
divine character. The soul does not associate with the changes that the body may go through
during its lifespan because it’s invisible. However, if it engages in the activities and desires of
the body and fails to purify and sanctify itself for acceptance in the underworld for the love it has
for the body, then it continues to roam the earth as a ghost.
The soul in an individual uses the body to perceive various senses such as sight, touch
and smell. In essence, this explains that when one uses, for instance, the feeling of smell and can
differentiate a good and bad smell it is because the soul has encountered the smell in its previous
life. Socrates also says that when one learns something they are recollecting what they had heard
before and forgotten. It is evident that through the soul, individuals have a lot of information and
knowledge in their possession and all they need is to recall. Consequently, this shows that when
one remembers something due to an event that takes place in their life, it is because the person
has previous knowledge of whatever it is. The remembrance emanates from the soul that
previously existed in another life.

SOUL IMMORTALITY 3
Socrates perceives the soul as what controls and influences human nature (Jowett, 1925). Ideally,
it shows that the immoral rules over the body and that there cannot be a life not unless it is
together with the soul. In essence, this indicates that the soul brings with it consciousness to the
body resulting in human life. The soul is invisible and does not change. It can also be said to be
divine because it brings life to the body and does not cease to exist when it’s time for the person
in whom it is enjoined to die.
However, there are objections to the view that the soul is immortal. The first objection
being that the existence of the soul before one’s life does not imply its immortality (Jowett,
1925). In response to this objection, Socrates argues that the soul brings life to the body. In this
regard, it cannot receive death since it is imperishable and thus immortal. Therefore, when death
comes the mortal being which is the body dies and the immortal which is the soul departs and
returns safely to the underworld.
The second objection arises in the comparison of the soul as being invisible but has other
elements that are perishable and mortal (Jowett, 1925). It is deemed invisible compared to the
body which is physically visible and tangible. However, in response to this, there is nothing that
precedes the soul. That is to say that the body is lifeless and has no meaning without the soul.
Ideally, it is the soul that brings life to the body and not the reverse. Therefore, it is the structure
that is mortal and not the soul.An objection arises as to whether the soul does not become the
same as the body when it gets involved in the desires of the body and also shares in the pains and
pleasures of the body thus rendering it mortal as the body (Frede, 1978). However, it is
countered by the argument that despite the soul surrendering to the desires of the body and not
wanting to separate from the body, contrary to other pure souls that are invisible, it becomes

SOUL IMMORTALITY 4
visible and fears the invisible world. It, therefore, fails to return to its origin and roams around
but does not die.
Additionally, an objection as to whether the soul has a longer lifespan naturally than the
human body is depicted. The objection arises due to its existence before and after the birth and
death of a person. However, Socrates explains that the soul does not live for a longer period than
the body, but instead, the soul relives a fresh when it gets to a new being and returns to its origin
when the host dies.
Given the divinity and immortality of the soul, it is, therefore, essential for individuals to
engage in just and right activities devoid of evil to ensure that the immortal does not suffer due to
the sorrows nor the pleasures brought about by the bodily pains and joys.

SOUL IMMORTALITY 5

References

Frede, D. (1978). The Final Proof of the Immortality of the Soul in Plato’s” Phaedo” 102a-107a.
Phronesis, 27-41.
Jowett, B. (1925). The dialogues of Plato.
Ross, W. D., & Ross, W. D. (1951). Plato’s theory of ideas (pp. 116-117). Oxford: Clarendon
Press.