An Exploration of the Myths in Gorgias, Phaedo and Republic

Abstract

In Plato’s dialogues, Socrates is not only pictured as a rigorous philosopher but also a proficient storyteller. At the end of Gorgias, Phaedo and Republic, Socrates chooses to use a myth about afterlife to end the conversation. Socrates’ myth, which is told differently to different people, is in a very different style from his logic deduction and plays a unique role in the process of persuasion. The significance of the myth does not merely consist in the storyline itself but has a far-reaching influence on people, the influence of tying philosophy together with literature.