Death (PHIL 176)
The lecture focuses exclusively on one argument for the immortality of the soul from Plato's Phaedo, namely, "the argument from simplicity." Plato suggests that in order for something to be destroyed, it must have parts, that is, it must be possible to "take it apart." Arguing that the soul is simple, that it does not have parts, Plato believes that it would logically follow that the soul is indestructible.
00:00 - Chapter 1. Frailties in "Recycling" and "Recollecting" Arguments
09:21 - Chapter 2. The Argument from Simplicity
19:01 - Chapter 3. Does Indestructibility and Invisibility of the Soul Necessarily Mean Immortality? Objections from Cebes and Simmias
30:36 - Chapter 4. Harmony as a Counter Analogy
42:36 - Chapter 5. Radio Waves - To Detect Rather Than to Sense the Soul
Complete course materials are available at the Yale Online website: online.yale.edu
This course was recorded in Spring 2007.