An Invitation to Join our Phaedo Reading Group starting in the Autumn of 2026
Join our online reading group as we read and discuss Plato's Phaedo together.
In this extraordinary dialogue, we accompany Socrates during the final hours before his death as he prepares to leave this world and enter the company of the gods.
Primarily concerned with the immortality of the soul, the Phaedo is also one of Plato's most profound explorations of the Theory of Forms, or Ideas. Socrates begins with something as ordinary as two sticks that appear roughly equal and, from this simple observation, leads us to the remarkable insight that we possess within ourselves the Idea of Equality. From there, he explores the relationship between body and soul, showing how the soul has an affinity with the eternal Forms or Ideas and therefore belongs to the realm of unchanging reality.
It is an immensely moving account of one soul preparing to make the great transition from this life to the next. At the same time, it speaks to each of us, reminding us of our own unique destiny and purpose, and of the possibility of cultivating a state of profound equanimity and inner joy. From that higher perspective, we may discover how to live lives of greater wisdom, fulfilment and quiet happiness.
Whether you are already familiar with Plato or approaching him for the first time, you will be most welcome.
If you would like to join our reading group, please register your interest by using the form below.
Led by:
Elizabeth Medler
Elizabeth Medler has been a student of the perennial wisdom since her late teens when she was introduced to the Fintry Trust and its inner heart, The Universal Order, which offers a systematic training inspired by the Universal Ideals of Truth, Goodness, Beauty and Unity. Today Elizabeth works as a freelance Editor and has edited a number of books for both a London publisher and private commissions. For many years Elizabeth managed a small educational charity, dedicated to Right Thinking, in Bosham, West Sussex. She was Editor of its magazine, New Vision (formerly The Science of Thought Review), which was published continuously since 1921. She also organized an all-year-round programme of events and courses. Earlier in her life Elizabeth worked in London and Devon as a paralegal on two large national cases in the fields of litigation and medical negligence.
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