is but man's way of being immortal, or as close as he can get to it. In this life, Plato stresses the point that we should always see the "truth", for if we act other wise, He explains, "men who have followed after gluttony, and wantonness, and drunkenness, and have had no thought of avoiding them, would pass into asses and animals of that sort." (Phaedo 81c) The soul that has failed to "follow the train of the gods", and sees nothing of truth, comes to no good end. "Because of the burden sheds her wings and falls to earth" being reincarnated in successively worse lives starting from that of the Philosopher and degenerating to that of a tyrant. Rebirth should be an opportunity to be born into a better life, but this ascending depends on the decisions we make now, in this life. We should live in justice, as justice is described by Plato as the ultimate "form" of man. Justice is understood by Plato and Socrates as not merely a social virtue, but the all encompassing virtue that alone can reconcile mind and matter, inner life and social life, giving man unity with in and with out. Therefore making it possible for him to build his own being, shape his soul, and attain happiness. No man can bring order in social life if he doesn't put order in his soul first. Our goal in life should be to build harmony and unity of purpose within the parts of our own souls. As you can see Platonic views on rebirth contrast with Christian views. Christians believe that souls either go to heaven or hell, and there is no rebirth, just eternal bliss, or torment. I happen to believe the Platonic view is closer to the truth however, heaven is when the soul attained the highest of truths and can ascend to level of the gods. ...
