Axiochus (dialogue)

The dialogues of Plato

Part of the series on:
Early dialogues:
Apology Charmides Crito Euthyphro First Alcibiades Hippias Major Hippias Minor Ion Laches Lysis
Transitional and middle dialogues:
Cratylus Euthydemus Gorgias Menexenus Meno Phaedo Protagoras Symposium
Later middle dialogues:
Republic Parmenides Theaetetus Phaedrus
Late dialogues:
Clitophon Timaeus Critias Sophist Statesman Philebus Laws
Of doubtful authenticity:
Axiochus Definitions Demodocus Epinomis Epistles Eryxias Halcyon Hipparchus Minos On Justice On Virtue Rival Lovers Second Alcibiades Sisyphus Theages

Axiochus (Greek: Ἀξίοχος) is a Socratic dialogue attributed to Plato, but which is considered spurious. The work dates from the Hellenistic era, c. 1st century BC. The author was probably a Platonist,^[1] or perhaps a Neopythagorean.^[2] It forms part of the consolation literature which was popular in Hellenistic and Roman era, although it is unusual in being addressed to someone who is close to death, rather than someone who has lost a loved-one.^[1]

In the dialogue, Axiochus has come close to death, and is scared by the experience, despite his familiarity with the arguments which were supposed to make him scorn the fear of death. Socrates is summoned to his bedside, and consoles him with a wide variety of teachings to help Axiochus welcome death as the release of the soul to a better place.^[1]

References

↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 John Madison Cooper, D. S. Hutchinson, (1997), Plato, Complete works, page 1734. Hackett Publishing.
↑ William Keith Chambers Guthrie (1986), A history of Greek philosophy, page 395. Cambridge University Press

External links

Works related to Axiochus at Wikisource
Latin translation by Marsilio Ficino