In the Phaedo, Plato argues a true philosopher practices death as though at every second life were behind him. To understand what Plato recommended by a genuine philosopher practicing fatality, it is imperative to define idea, and death corresponding to Plato and Socrates. Idea is thought as the love and seek out wisdom. Over a deeper level, it refers to the search of what makes a man happy. For philosophers, philosophy or the love for and quest for knowledge is a means of life and not merely an intellectual pursuit. Plato and Socrates define loss of life as the ultimate parting of the soul and body. They consider the body as a jail for the soul and view fatality as the method of flexibility for the heart and soul. Considering Plato and Socrates meaning of loss of life, in the life of a true philosopher, death will not occur when bodily functions cease. Rather, the real philosopher has already been useless before they die or before bodily processes cease.
The true meaning of the key phrase "a true philosopher practices death as though at every moment life were behind him" are available in these definitions. For the real philosopher, life includes the search for the meaning of life or what brings contentment in life, and conforming to it. True philosophers respect your body as an obstacle to the seek out knowledge and meaning in life. The need to look after your body presents numerous distractions in the search for knowledge. Therefore, a true philosopher's definitive goal is usually to be free of the body and its entanglements, to go after knowledge.
Plato views real human mother nature as dualistic or made up of the heart and your body. When a true philosopher disentangles himself/herself from your body, the spirit remains. Quite simply, the true philosopher deserts the body to reside in, and seek satisfaction of the heart, which is precisely what Socrates and Plato define as death. By doing this, the real philosopher procedures dying or separation of the spirit and the body, a long time before physical death occurs.
Practicing of loss of life is vital in refining people's character. The quest for physical pleasures is the root of all evil in the modern culture. That's the reason all religions in the world encourage people to abandon the seek out bodily pleasures and seek spiritual gratification, which is the position considered by Plato. Separating the body from the soul enables humans to see beyond the gratification of the flesh and follow the things they believe in, without fearing the results these things might have on the body, which is so doing, demonstrate courage that can only just be observed on an increased level than your body.
Part 2: Nietzsche's eternal return
Nietzsche requires an evidently different view from Plato on life. He argues that we should live every day as though everything that happens in life will returning eternally. Nietzsche takes on an approach that's not favored by religions plus some philosophers to make clear his point. For Nietzsche, the trick to living a fulfilled life is receiving and embracing certainty. This is the true tag of a free of charge heart, or a soul that is not hindered by anything. Many people are affected physically and mentally and go through life just seeking to endure, in the expect an improved after life that transcends the existing life. This is the stance considered by some religions such as Christianity. However, Nietzsche telephone calls this home deception.
In living life as if every day will recur, Nietzsche promotes one to recognize what is and what has happened, and proceed to a higher degree of liberation to will for what has occurred to reoccur. The real meaning of life as Nietzsche clarifies is "saying yes alive". He argues that it is not possible to split up good from bad and this suffering is a part of life that is imperative to achieve greatness. The truly free spirit is one which is thankful for everything that has occurred, and one which can will for life to reoccur with all its joys, discomfort and sorrows, as this is the true enjoyment of life.
Free spirits enjoy life on earth and live every day to the fullest. Given a chance, they can will for everything to reoccur equally as it has, as it would still deliver the same lessons that make great people. Free spirits have discovered to embrace fact and not only get through life in hope for an improved afterlife. This, corresponding to Nietzsche, is living every day as though everything that occurs will reoccur, which is the true make of a free person.
Embracing Nietzsche's idea makes people better and braver. By embracing truth, one is no more reluctant of what might happen. Somewhat, one can live a joyful life and take every pleasure, sorrow and occasion of enduring as a chance to attain wisdom. The reason why you can will for an eternal recurrence is because the knowledge is not attainable minus the experiences.
Part Three: My view
Of the two methods to life, my preferred strategy is Plato's practice of death. Plato assumes a more realistic approach to life, and marketing campaign results of Nietzsche's school of thought on life can still be achieved with Plato's model, and never have to will for an eternal recurrence. As successful people anywhere in the world will consent, attaining greatness requires someone to subdue your body. Successful people usually work harder than other people. They have got little regard for the wellbeing of the body and they force their systems to go beyond the comfort point to become successful. In practicing daily death of the flesh, successful people attain knowledge and greatness. Nietzsche's model strains on embracing the joys of life and living a complete life on the planet. However, it falls short by failing to recognize the fact that no person can truly take it easy without hope. Regarding Plato, the desire is good for eventual freedom in physical fatality. In the case of successful people, the desire can be for greatness or wealth but the path to this eventuality requires the daily loss of life of the body which according to Plato is dying before you actually die.