Sebastian R. P. Gertz, Ph.D. (2010) in Classics, University of Cambridge, is a Research Associate to the Ancient Commentators on Aristotle project at King's College London. He has published on Greek Neoplatonism and the ancient commentary tradition.

• Introduction1. Nature and purpose of the present study 2. Olympiodorus and Damascius: two philosophical personalities2.1. Olympiodorus 2.2. Damascius 3. Interpreting the Phaedo: the centrality of the skopo¢j3.1. Finding the skopo¢j 3.2. Applying the skopo¢jChapter OneOlympiodorus on suicide1. Philosophy as mele¢th qana¢tou and the prohibition of suicide 2. Two kinds of death and separation 3. Two ways of arguing against suicide 4. Olympiodorus’ three arguments 5. The esoteric doctrine 6. The philosophical argument 7. The case for suicide8. Olympiodorus’ conclusionChapter TwoPolitics and purification in Socrates’ second defence (Phd. 63b-69e)1. Introduction 1.1. The civic virtues and the statesman 1.2. Old puzzles 2. The civic context(s) of Plato’s Phaedo 3. The discourses on purification 4. The virtues 5. Conclusion: The rapture of virtues Chapter ThreeSyrianus and Damascius: two interpretations of the argument from opposites in Plato’sPhaedo (Phd. 69e-72d)1. Introduction 002. The background to Syrianus and Damascius 3. Syrianus 3.1. Syrianus’ interpretation of the argument from opposites in outline 3.2. Syrianus’ approach to particular problems with the argument 3.3. How much does the argument from opposites prove? 4. Damascius: s%¢zetai o¥ lo¢goj? 4.1. Damascius’ critique of Syrianus 4.2. Damascius’ own version of the argument 5. Conclusion Chapter FourMemory, forgetfulness and recollection in the Phaedo Commentaries1. Introduction 2. What does the argument prove? 3. What is recollection, and how does it work? 4. What forms are recollected, and why do we need forms at all? 5. Two puzzles about memory and recollection Chapter FiveThe affinity argument in Plato’s Phaedo1. Introduction 2. Alcinous, Plotinus and Porphyry 3. Iamblichus 4. Proclus’ analysis of the argument 5. Damascius’ critique of Proclus 6. Three objections to the argument 7. Two Platonic problems Chapter SixThe final argument in Plato’s Phaedo1. The ‘second voyage’ 2. The final argument 3. Strato’s criticisms and their impact 4. Refuting Strato 0005. Damascius’ new analysis 6. Concluding evaluation 7. A final note on the argument for immortality in Proclus’ Elements of TheologyChapter SevenImmortality and afterlife in the Phaedo myth1. Preliminaries 2. The afterlife journey: Phd. 107c-108c 3. Which earth is the ‘true earth’? 4. The underground rivers in Damascius and Olympiodorus 5. Epilogue General conclusions Bibliography

"This is an excellent book which makes a great contribution not only to the literature on the commentary tradition of the Phaedo, but also to the study of Neoplatonic commentaries and the way in which such commentaries should be read. Sarah Klitenic Wear, Bryn Mawr Classical Review 8.5.2012."Gertz has done many services in this volume, and it is likely not an exaggeration to hold his work as a model approach to dealing with the Neoplatonic commentary genre and its difficulties of interpretation." Dennis Clark, The International Journal of the Platonic 8:1 (2014), pp. 107-109."A huge amount of scholarship has evidently gone into producing this volume, and the result is a book that makes a significant contribution to research in this area and that most certainly delivers on its goal of helping us to see the Phaedo through late Neoplatonic spectacles." G. Fay Edwards, Philosophical Review 123:2 (2014), pp. 231-234."This book should be on the reading list of all who study the nature of soul in Plato, the place of the Phaedo in the Neoplatonic curriculum, Plato’s theory of recollection and the forms in souls, Plato’s myths, transmission patterns among Neoplatonic commentators, and ethical issues such as philosophical purification, suicide, the relationship between civic and contemplative virtues, providence, and others." Donka D. Markus, Ancient Philosophy 33:2 (2013), pp. 464-469.