Socrates Theory Of Biocentrism In Phaedo

In the Phaedo, Socrates argues that practicing philosophy is practicing for death. In the paper that follows, I will explain why Socrates argues that philosophy is to learning to die based on the theory of anamnesis and how this connects with the present day theory of biocentrism where the soul takes a central part in understanding the universe. First, I will detail the theory of anamnesis in the Meno. Then, I will show how based on the theory that philosophy is learning to die as outlined in the Phaedo. Finally, I will connect the theory of anamnesis and the theory of philosophy as preparing for death to biocentrism in the twenty-first century.
In one of the most famous paradoxes, Meno asks Socrates, “Why, on what lines will you look, Socrates, …show more content…
The first and second premises that death exists and the body and soul are separate is acknowledged in biocentrism. Essentially, biocentrism argues that the body is composed of living tissue and cells while the mind is our perception. “Without perception, there is in effect no reality. Nothing has existence unless you, I, or some living creature perceives it, and how it is perceived further influences that reality. (“A New Theory of the Universe”). However, a new theory in biocentrism has emerged arguing death does not really exist because there are an infinite number of universes, and all possible universes exist simultaneously, regardless of what happens in any of them. Although individual organisms, the body, will die, the mind lives on in an alternate universe. This is explained by conservation of energy as energy can neither be created nor destroyed and the mind is considered energy so it has always existed and can never be …show more content…
Similarly, in the Phaedo abstract truths can only be understood by the soul. For example, one of the core principles of biocentrism as outlined by Dr. Lanza states time does not have a real existence outside of our own human perception. “It is the process by which we perceive changes in the universe and space, like time, is not an object or a thing. Space is another form of our animal understanding and does not have an independent reality. We carry space and time around with us like turtles with shells. Thus, there is no absolute self-existing matrix in which physical events occur independent of life.” (“A New Theory of the Universe”). Since the role of the philosopher is to seek truth and truth can only come from the soul, biocentrism relies on the soul for the truth as well.
In conclusion, the points that are argued throughout the Phaedo and the Meno are used to prove the concept of the soul and that philosophy is learning how to die. I have offered an reconstruction for the theory of anamnesis and the philosopher’s duty of preparing for death and connected it with the present day theory of biocentrism where the soul takes a central part in understanding the