Editing Phaedo (section)

== Background ==
The dialogue is set in 399 BCE, in an Athenian prison, during the last hours prior to the death of [[Socrates]]. It is presented within a [[frame story]] by [[Phaedo of Elis]], who is recounting the events to [[Echecrates of Phlius|Echecrates]], a [[Pythagoreanism|Pythagorean]] [[philosopher]].{{sfn|Nails|2002|p=138}} 
=== Characters ===
{{seealso|List of speakers in Plato's dialogues}}
Speakers in the frame story:
* '''[[Phaedo of Elis|Phaedo]]''' of [[Elis]]: a follower of Socrates, a youth allegedly enslaved as a prisoner of war, whose freedom was purchased at Socrates' request. He later founded [[Eretrian school|a school of philosophy]].{{sfn|Nails|2002|p=231}}
* '''[[Echecrates of Phlius|Echecrates]]''' of [[Phlius]]: A [[Pythagoreanism|Pythagorean]] philosopher about whom little else is known.{{sfn|Nails|2002|p=138}} 
Speakers in the main part of the dialogue:
* '''[[Socrates]]''' of [[Alopece]]: a philosopher in his 70s, sentenced to death by the Athenians for impiety.
* '''[[Simmias of Thebes|Simmias]]''' and '''[[Cebes of Thebes|Cebes]]''' of [[Thebes, Greece|Thebes]]: followers of Socrates and students of the Pythagorean philosopher [[Philolaus of Croton]]. As relayed in the ''[[Crito]]'', which takes place a day or two earlier, they had arranged a plan to help Socrates escape from prison and live in exile, which he had declined.{{sfn|Nails|2002|pp=82,260-261}} 
* '''[[Crito of Alopece|Crito]]''' of Alopece: a childhood friend of Socrates, who unsuccessfully attempts to convince him to escape from prison in the ''Crito''. In the ''Phaedo'', he takes responsibility for Socrates' body after his death and sacrifices a rooster to [[Asclepius]] on his behalf.{{sfn|Nails|2002|p=114-115}}
Other people present:
* [[Xanthippe]], wife of Socrates: early in the dialogue, she becomes distressed, and Socrates has her taken away. Plato's portrayal of her is generally sympathetic, unlike [[Xenophon]] and later biographers, who portray her as inter-personally difficult and unpleasant.{{sfn|Nails|2002|pp=299-300}}
* [[Lamprocles]], [[Sophroniscus]], [[Menexenus]], sons of Socrates: aged roughly 17, 11, and 3 respectively.{{sfn|Nails|2002|pp=183, 203, 270}}
* [[Apollodorus of Phaleron|Apollodorus]] of [[Phalerum|Phaleron]]: A follower of Socrates who is unable to stop weeping, he is frequently portrayed by others as flamboyant and manic.{{sfn|Nails|2002|p=39}} He also appears in the ''[[Symposium (Plato)|Symposium]]'', where he relates the narrative of the dialogue to a friend, and in the ''[[Apology (Plato)|Apology]]'', where he offers up funds to pay Socrates' fine.{{sfn|Nails|2002|p=39}}
* [[Critobulus]] of Alopece, son of Crito
* [[Hermogenes (philosopher)|Hermogenes]] of Alopece: a follower of Socrates. He is also one of the main speakers in Plato's ''[[Cratylus (dialogue)|Cratylus]]''.{{sfn|Nails|2002|pp=163-164}}
* [[Epigenes, son of Antiphon]]: A follower of Socrates, about whom nothing else is known.{{sfn|Nails|2002|p=140}}
* [[Aeschines of Sphettus]]: a Socratic philosopher who wrote dialogues, some fragments of which survive.{{sfn|Nails|2002|pp=5-6}}
* [[Antisthenes]]: a Socratic philosopher and student of [[Gorgias]], he wrote philosophical dialogues and speeches, none of which have survive.{{sfn|Nails|2002|pp=33-36}} Later members of the [[Cynicism (philosophy)|Cynic]] school of philosophy saw him as their founder.{{sfn|Nails|2002|pp=33-36}}
* Ctesippus of Paeania: A follower of Socrates, about whom little is known outside his appearance in the ''[[Lysis (dialogue)|Lysis]]'' and ''[[Euthydemus (dialogue)|Euthydemus]]''.{{sfn|Nails|2002|p=119-120}}
* Menexenus, son of Demophon: A follower of Socrates, he is a speaker in the ''[[Lysis (dialogue)|Lysis]]'' and in the ''[[Menexenus (dialogue)|Menexenus]]'', which is named after him.{{sfn|Nails|2002|p=202}} 
* Phaedondas of Thebes: According to [[Xenophon]],<ref>Mem. 1.2.48</ref> Phaedondas was a member of Socrates' inner circle along with Crito, Simmias, and Cebes.{{sfn|Nails|2002|p=301}} However, nothing else about him is known.{{sfn|Nails|2002|p=232}}
* [[Euclid of Megara|Euclid]] of [[Megara]]: a Socratic philosopher, founder of the [[Megarian school]]. He appears in the prologue of the ''[[Theaetetus (dialogue)|Theaetetus]]''.{{sfn|Nails|2002|pp=144-145}}
* [[Terpsion]] of Megara: A friend of Euclid, about whom little else is known. He also appears with Euclid in the ''Theaetetus'' prologue.{{sfn|Nails|2002|p=274}}

=== Historical context ===
[[File:Kapitolinischer_Pythagoras_adjusted.jpg|thumb|A bust of [[Pythagoras]], a philosopher from the 6th century BCE. Many of the doctrines discussed in the Phaedo on the [[Palingenesis|immortality and reincarnation of the soul]] and the [[Table of Opposites|metaphysical nature of opposites]] are thought to derive from the ideas of his followers.]]
The Phaedo is Plato's fourth and last [[dialogue]] to detail the philosopher's final days, following ''[[Euthyphro]]'', ''[[Apology (Plato)|Apology]]'', and ''[[Crito]]''. According to the dialogues, Socrates has been imprisoned and sentenced to death by an [[Classical Athens|Athenian]] jury for impiety.

Many of the key characters in the dialogue are associated with [[Pythagoreanism]], a religious and philosophical doctrine that flourished early 5th century BCE, which taught the immortality and reincarnation of the soul after death. Simmias and Cebes are both stated in the dialogue to have studied under [[Philolaus of Croton]],<ref>Plato, ''Phaedo'', 61d</ref> one of the most prominent Pythagorean philosophers,{{sfn|Gallop|1996|p=78-79}} and Echecrates, who is hearing the dialogue from Phaedo, is a Pythagorean from Phlius, which was a stronghold of Pythagoreanism well into the 4th century BCE, when the dialogue is set.{{sfn|Nails|2002|p=138}} Many of the topics that are discussed in the dialogue are thought to derive from the doctrines of Philolaus, including the discussion of suicide, the alternation of opposites, and the harmonic attunement of the soul.{{sfn|Gallop|1996|p=148}} Plato himself likely learned Pythagorean doctrines from his close friendship with [[Archytas of Tarentum]], a philosopher and statesman from [[Magna Graecia]] who made contributions to mechanics, number theory, and acoustics.{{sfn|Nails|2002|pp=44-45}}

<!---- "In the dialogue, Socrates is executed by being made to drink [[conium maculatum|hemlock]]." ---->
=== Style, dating, and authorship ===
The ''Phaedo'' is one of the [[dialogue]]s of [[Plato]]'s middle period, along with the ''[[Republic (Plato)|Republic]]'' and the ''[[Symposium (Plato)|Symposium]].''{{sfn|Cooper|Hutchinson|1997|p=49}}