Platonic Objections Against Materialism

 First Platonic Argument from Death
 
1. When Socrates died, his soul departed.
2. If (1), then Socrates had a soul.
3. If Socrates had a soul, then TM is false.
4. Therefore, TM is false. [1,2,3 MMP]

A premise "begs the question" when it presupposes the conclusion in an objectionable way.

• Be able to provide a rationale for each premise. Describe the Socratic theory of death used to motivate premise (1) in the Phaedo.
• Be able to explain why even someone who believes the argument to be sound must admit that premise (1) begs the question against the typical materialist.

Second Platonic Argument from Death
 
1. When Socrates died, he departed.
2. When Socrates died, his body did not depart.
3. Therefore, (1) and (2). [1,2 Conj]
4. If (1) and (2), then Socrates was not identical to his body.
5. If Socrates was not identical to his body, then TM is false.
6. Therefore, TM is false. [3,4,5 MMP]
 
x is identical to y =df. x and y are the very same thing.
 
Principle about Identity (PI) (Also known as "Leibniz's Law"): If x has some property that y does not have, then x is not identical to y.

• Be able to provide rationales for premises (1) and (2) based on passages near the end of the Phaedo.
• Note that line (3) is a lemma--an intermediate conclusion supported by premises and used to support a conclusion.
• Be able to utilize the definition of 'x is identical to y', the Principle about Identity, and the property of departing when Socrates dies in the construction of a robust, clear rationale for premise (4).
• Finally, be able to pick out a premise and present an objection against it on the Typical Materialist's behalf.