The Test Of Persuasion In The Phaedo

Abstract

The Phaedo is a peculiar dialogue, since the philosophical stake, i.e. the survival of Socrates, concerns the interlocutors deeply and personally. Therefore, I seek the answer to the question whether persuasion (peithō), the point of intersection between argumentation and dramaturgy tries to treat the emotions of Socrates’ friends, and if so, what kind of problems, instruments and outcome of emotive persuasion unfold before us. I argue against the intellectualist approaches that rational persuasion must always take the emotional obstacles into account, and to confirm this, I suggest that we read Socrates’ efforts to soothe his friends from the theory of persuasion of the Laws.