plato vs. descartes

Compare the arguments for the distinctness of body and soul [or ‘psyche’] in Plato’s Phaedo with Descartes’ arguments for the distinctness of body and mind [in the Meditations and elsewhere] After reading Plato’s Phaedo, we can see that there are many differences between the body and soul. Plato outlines these in some of the arguments given by Socrates. The first time the differences are brought to our attention, is when Plato talks about …

…the body and soul, the fact that we can be sure of one and entirely uncertain of the other. Also one is immortal and existed before our birth and exists after our death whereas the other is wholly mortal, has been born and will certainly perish. It would then follow that the soul can exist without the body, as it certainly does, yet the body cannot function without and is completely dependant upon the soul.