Phaedo Summary

Phaedo, a man present at the time of Socrates' execution, is asked by Echecrates, whose exact identity is not clear, to give a detailed account of Socrates last hours, which Phaedo readily agrees to do, citing the pleasure remembering Socrates gives to him. Where Phaedo begins his story, he and his fellow admirers of Socrates have just arrived at the prison on the day Socrates is supposed to be put to death. They go into his cell to find him with his wife and his child whom he immediately dismisses upon seeing his disciples.

After explaining that he has begun writing poetry to fulfill a prophetic dream, one of his students brings up the subject of suicide. Since Socrates claims that for the philosopher, death is a good thing, it seems strange that he would think that it is wrong to commit suicide...