Comparing Phaedo 'And Socrates' Approach To Death

One ironic truth that is shared among all living organisms is the matter of death. As fatality is inevitable, death and its relation with one's existence has always concerned thinkers, and philosophy, being the field of evaluating ideas, has given the chance to these thinkers to explore the true meanings of life and death. Among all great philosophers who have tackled this subject in their lifetime, the similarities between Socrates and Buddha's approach towards death is astonishing. In his essay, Dialogues with Death, Matthew Dillon explores the similarities between Buddha and Socrates' principles on the subject of death. Claiming that 'openness,' 'equanimity,' and self-assurance in the way of life is the shared fundamental schooling of these two noble teachers in account, Dillon uses Plato's Phaedo and …show more content…
Moreover, he argues that both texts were written after the death of their subject, and by their close devotees, in a dialogue style. However, the geographical barriers made it difficult for Greeks and Indians to have a true "exchange of ideas" for decades later. As a result, Dillon argues that their influence on each other was rather tortuous (526). Although at first sight Socrates, who claimed not knowing anything in the end, and Buddha, who believed he was the enlightened one, do have a fundamental discrepancy in their view point, both teachers shared alike nature which Dillon calls "extreme openness" (527-528). According to Dillon, this openness is observable in their philosophy, their social manners, and finally, their approach to death (528). For instance, Socrates, being a teacher, tries to open the doors for discussion and not dictating his personal views on others. His kindness and empathy accordingly encouraged his followers