ABSTRACT
Inspiteofthejudicialdetachmentwithwhichtheauthorshave properlyconductedtheirresearches,theyrevealunmistr.kableadmirationandrespect,indeedsomethingclosetoaffection,forthegodwho hascommandedtheirprolongedattention.Andtheymakegoodthe justiceoftheirkindlyfeelingsforthekindlygodatalmostallpoints. Inonematter,however,inmyopinion,theyclaimtoomuch."Thegod wasconcerned,"theysay,"notonlywiththelifeherebutalsowiththe Beyond."Insupportofthistheybringforwardtwopiecesofevidence: theconnectionbetweenAsclepiusandDemeter,andthelastwordsof SocratesasgivenbyPlatoattheendofthePhaedo.Withregardto theformer,theydrawunjustifiableconclusionsfromthetestimonies (especially565a),andtheyallowtheirimaginationtomaketoomuch ofthejustifiableconclusions.Asforthelatter,weare,tobesure, dealingwithapassagewhichhasexercisedcommentatorssinceancient times.IntheveryarticleofdeathSocratessays:"Crito,weoweacock toAsclepius.Payitanddon'tforget."FollowingtheleadoftheNeoplatonistOlympiodorus,theauthorsmaintainthatSocratesisthinking ofAsclepius,notasthehealerofdisease,butasthereviverofthedead, becauseforSocratesdeathislifeandlifeisdeath.Nowthismayina sensebetrue,butitdoesnotargueanyeschatologicalfunctionfor Asclepius.Thewordsmaybeunderstoodmoresimply.ForSocrates, life'sfitfulfeverisover,andheiscontent.Forsuchaboonhemust expresshisgratitude,andwithparadoxicalirony,halfserious,half whimsical,hebidshisfrienddowhathecannotdohimselfandmake athank-offeringtothegodwhocurestheillsofmen.Asclepiusisstill thegreatphysician,astheauthorshavefullyandsympatheticallyrepresentedhimthroughoutthebook,notagodwhopromisesandassures ablissfullifebeyondthegrave.
