The Orphic Myth About the Afterlife of the Soul in Plato’s Philosophy

Abstract

This article provides a comparative analysis of the semantic equivalents of Orphic ideas about the afterlife of the soul and Plato’s philosophical views. An overview of the leading research concepts of Orphism is presented; their strengths and weaknesses are analysed in the light of the new archaeological data. As a methodological platform, the maximalist approach was chosen, according to which the cult of Orpheus can be traced historically and its principles and practices can be identified. The basic idea is that mystical cults (including Orphism) are an organized system that is widespread throughout the Mediterranean region. The analysis of written, archaeological, and epigraphic data indicates that Plato’s system of views on the immortality of the soul is a theoretical explication of the “metaphysical” doctrines of the Orphic mysteries. It is proven here that Plato, using Orphic formulae in his dialogues, transmitted Orphic ritual traditions through his philosophical writings. In addition, it is demonstrated that Plato turned to the Orphic myth to explain such phenomenal and noumenal issues as the nature and the afterlife of the soul. A conclusion is made that the doctrine of the Orphic tradition can be reconstructed due to the systematic use of Orphic formulae by Plato, which also indicates the integrity of the Orphic teaching. Plato not only used the language of the mysteries, but also developed his own system of teaching Orphic rites on its basis. It was a kind of scientific methodology explaining the Orphic doctrine with the help of Socrates’ dialectical method. Thus, further research into Plato’s views on the afterlife of the soul will shed some light on the Orphic teaching in particular, and mystical cults in general.