A Reflection on the Soul-body Duality in Orpheus and Its Effect on Plato's Doctrine of the Soul

Abstract

This article returns to the longstanding problem of the soul/body relation. However, highlighting Orphism's impact on Plato, instead of arguing for a new account of this relation, the current study tries to trace back the problem to Orphism. Reading Plato’s work, while keeping in mind the Orphic rituals and beliefs concerned with immortality, would shed new light on the rise of the notion of the soul. Accordingly, some Orphean teachings and mythological origins will be reviewed. Then it will be focused on some of Plato's dialogues, which had a profound effect on later soul studies, to demonstrate how they are formulated based on Orphean themes. © The Author(s).