The Myth Of Soul In Phaedrus:The Illustration Of Plato's Idea Of Soul By Mythology

Plato is not only a philosopher but also a mythopoet.There are many poetic factors in his philosophic dialogues,such as epic poetry,mythology and so on.Mythology is one of the most important.There are at least ten great myths in Plato's works,including the myth of soul in Phaedrus.Plato tells four myths in Phaedrus in Socrates' s voice.The myth of soul is the most important one.It is in the middle of the dialogue.The myth describes soul's nature and movement,connecting the theme of love and the theme of rhetoric;it illustrates the idea of soul,which implies the writing aim of the dialogue.Compared with illustrating the idea of soul by logos,illustrating the idea of soul by mythology is more vivid and attractive;compared with Plato's other myths of soul,the myth of soul in Phaedrus has the most complete and specific illustration on Plato's idea of soul.In Phaedrus,Socrates gives Phaedrus guidance to know soul's nature and movement,to investigate his own soul,to chase for good,and to live a philosophical life.First,Socrates guides Phaedrus to know the soul's immortality and character by mythology's imagination and rhetoric.Then,he guides Phaedrus to know the soul's movement and destiny by mythology's dramaticism and retribution.Finally,Socrates guides Phaedrus to know the soul's happy life on the earth and experience of love by mythology's c theme of redemption and means of metaphor.By socrates' guidance,Phaedrus has gained some self-knowledge and not indulged in Lysias' immoral speech any more.Socrates illustrates his idea of soul to Phaedrus by mythology.It shows that mythology can be the way to know the soul's nature and movement and life.Plato imitates the dialogue between Socrates and Phaedrus and uses myth to illustrate the idea of soul.The form of mythology makes the words more vivid and attractive to the readers,and leads readers to know soul's nature and movement,to investigate the dialogists' souls,to investigate their own souls,and devote themselves to a moral and philosophic life.The myth of soul,is Plato's illustration on his idea of soul by mythology.Plato leads readers to become god-like,to nourish their own souls,and to cultivate their moralities.It is actually the integration of mythology or poetry and philosophy,and the education of humanity.The form of Mythology makes Plato's idea of soul more attractive and have a great more significance of education.