Tethys333
Member
Today I would like to tell you about Plato's myth of Er.
This tale belongs to his collection “Republic” or, in ancient Greek, “Πολιτεία” (politéia).
The myth tells about Er, a warrior who died in battle. After ten days, his body showed no signs of decomposition, and after twelve days, Er comes back to life to tell what he had seen in the Afterlife.
He remembers seeing a plain on which two portals opened: one for those who have lived a righteous life and will therefore receive a reward, and another portal for souls who have been condemned, where they suffer punishment.
After a thousand years these souls will meet again on the same plain to choose a new life.
Those who had already lived a comfortable life were not careful in their choice while those who have already lived a bad life are careful in choosing a good one.
These are guided by the “Demons” who lead men to reincarnation and are guardians of the Heavenly Place.
Before reincarnating, however, souls must drink from the River Lete, which causes past lives to be forgotten.
Er is the only one who did not drink from the river since he was in charge of telling men what he had seen.
Explanation:
The myth of Er represents a complex allegory of the Platonic view on the immortality of the soul, free will and cosmic justice. The tale emphasizes the importance of the moral choices human beings make during their lives, as these will influence not only fate in the afterlife but also future lives. The judgment that souls receive after death reflects the Platonic view of justice: those who have lived virtuously are rewarded, while those who have lived in injustice suffer the consequences of their actions.
One of the most significant aspects of the myth is the idea of the free choice of souls. Each soul is responsible for choosing its next life, and fate is not imposed by external forces, but results from the decisions the soul makes based on its own experience and desires. This underscores the centrality of free will in Plato's philosophy: it is not fate or a deity that determines the individual's fate, but it is his or her own actions and decisions.
The Lete River, which causes forgetfulness, symbolizes the human condition in earthly life: most people forget experiences and lessons learned in previous lives and continue to make mistakes, choosing lives that do not lead to virtue or wisdom. Only those who have acquired a deep understanding of philosophy and justice are able to make conscious and virtuous choices. In this sense, Plato seems to suggest that only those who live by philosophical principles are truly free to choose a life that will lead to true happiness and salvation of the soul.
The allegory of the judgment of souls and their punishment or reward harks back to Plato's conception of cosmic justice. For Plato, the universe is governed by a moral law in which every action has a consequence, and this law extends beyond earthly life. There is no immediate punishment or reward in the sensible world, but the balance of each person's actions is adjusted in the afterlife, where souls receive what they deserve based on their behavior during life.
The myth of Er also has a strong ethical significance. The idea that souls must choose their next life implies that human beings have a responsibility to shape their own destiny through their choices. Souls who make impulsive or material desire-based choices risk choosing an unhappy or unjust life, while those who choose wisely have the opportunity to live more justly and happily. In this context, Plato wants to warn against the temptations of desire and ignorance, which often lead to poor choices.
Another relevant aspect of the myth of Er is the cyclical nature of metempsychosis. The fact that souls keep reincarnating into new bodies underscores the importance of purification and learning through different lives. The soul must go through many experiences before it can reach a complete understanding of truth and righteousness. Reincarnation, in this sense, is seen as an educational process, a path to moral perfection and wisdom.
So, as well as being able to easily note that everything the High Priests talk about is not a lie but is what our ancestors have already experienced, there is a great moral behind it that we must always remember: to do φιλοσοφία (philosophìa).
You should know that the word “φιλοσοφία” is composed of two words: “φιλεῖν” (phileîn), which means “to love” and “σοφία” (sophía) meaning “wisdom.” So live by loving wisdom, live by taking responsibility for your actions, and always make conscious choices.
For anyone who thinks that our ancestors have nothing to teach, well you are wrong. Listen to the word of the Knowers!
Hail Plato!
Hail Zeus!
Hail the gods of Hell!
This tale belongs to his collection “Republic” or, in ancient Greek, “Πολιτεία” (politéia).
The myth tells about Er, a warrior who died in battle. After ten days, his body showed no signs of decomposition, and after twelve days, Er comes back to life to tell what he had seen in the Afterlife.
He remembers seeing a plain on which two portals opened: one for those who have lived a righteous life and will therefore receive a reward, and another portal for souls who have been condemned, where they suffer punishment.
After a thousand years these souls will meet again on the same plain to choose a new life.
Those who had already lived a comfortable life were not careful in their choice while those who have already lived a bad life are careful in choosing a good one.
These are guided by the “Demons” who lead men to reincarnation and are guardians of the Heavenly Place.
Before reincarnating, however, souls must drink from the River Lete, which causes past lives to be forgotten.
Er is the only one who did not drink from the river since he was in charge of telling men what he had seen.
Explanation:
The myth of Er represents a complex allegory of the Platonic view on the immortality of the soul, free will and cosmic justice. The tale emphasizes the importance of the moral choices human beings make during their lives, as these will influence not only fate in the afterlife but also future lives. The judgment that souls receive after death reflects the Platonic view of justice: those who have lived virtuously are rewarded, while those who have lived in injustice suffer the consequences of their actions.
One of the most significant aspects of the myth is the idea of the free choice of souls. Each soul is responsible for choosing its next life, and fate is not imposed by external forces, but results from the decisions the soul makes based on its own experience and desires. This underscores the centrality of free will in Plato's philosophy: it is not fate or a deity that determines the individual's fate, but it is his or her own actions and decisions.
The Lete River, which causes forgetfulness, symbolizes the human condition in earthly life: most people forget experiences and lessons learned in previous lives and continue to make mistakes, choosing lives that do not lead to virtue or wisdom. Only those who have acquired a deep understanding of philosophy and justice are able to make conscious and virtuous choices. In this sense, Plato seems to suggest that only those who live by philosophical principles are truly free to choose a life that will lead to true happiness and salvation of the soul.
The allegory of the judgment of souls and their punishment or reward harks back to Plato's conception of cosmic justice. For Plato, the universe is governed by a moral law in which every action has a consequence, and this law extends beyond earthly life. There is no immediate punishment or reward in the sensible world, but the balance of each person's actions is adjusted in the afterlife, where souls receive what they deserve based on their behavior during life.
The myth of Er also has a strong ethical significance. The idea that souls must choose their next life implies that human beings have a responsibility to shape their own destiny through their choices. Souls who make impulsive or material desire-based choices risk choosing an unhappy or unjust life, while those who choose wisely have the opportunity to live more justly and happily. In this context, Plato wants to warn against the temptations of desire and ignorance, which often lead to poor choices.
Another relevant aspect of the myth of Er is the cyclical nature of metempsychosis. The fact that souls keep reincarnating into new bodies underscores the importance of purification and learning through different lives. The soul must go through many experiences before it can reach a complete understanding of truth and righteousness. Reincarnation, in this sense, is seen as an educational process, a path to moral perfection and wisdom.
So, as well as being able to easily note that everything the High Priests talk about is not a lie but is what our ancestors have already experienced, there is a great moral behind it that we must always remember: to do φιλοσοφία (philosophìa).
You should know that the word “φιλοσοφία” is composed of two words: “φιλεῖν” (phileîn), which means “to love” and “σοφία” (sophía) meaning “wisdom.” So live by loving wisdom, live by taking responsibility for your actions, and always make conscious choices.
For anyone who thinks that our ancestors have nothing to teach, well you are wrong. Listen to the word of the Knowers!
Hail Plato!
Hail Zeus!
Hail the gods of Hell!
