Consider the various proofs offered by Plato for the immortality of the Soul. Give a brief account of what each was and discuss their effectiveness. In what respects does the final proof in the Phaedo differ from the others there offered?
             The idea that the soul is immortal is one that Plato argues in many of his writings. The work that is primarily concerned with this subject matter is the Phaedo and in it contains three arguments that attempt to provide reasoning for the immortality of the soul. Other arguments can be found in the Meno, Phaedrus and the Republic, and other works such as Laws and the Timaeus assert the immortality of the soul without argument. The structure and functions of the soul which Plato explains in other works, such as it being tripartite, or a charioteer, need not be discussed here, as this aspect of the soul's make up does not really influence its immortality. Plato's reasoning will be examined book by book and each proof's effectiveness evaluated as an individual argument.
             One of the first instances of an argument in favour of the soul's immortality comes in one of the Socratic Dialogues, the Meno. The question of immortality arises because Meno, an aristocrat from Thessaly, is about to embark on his military and political training and is seeking advice from Socrates about virtue. Meno wants to find out from Socrates whether or not virtue can be taught; indeed this is the opening line of the dialogue. In order to discover whether virtue can be taught, and because neither Meno nor Socrates know the answer to this, Socrates proposes to Meno that they look into this together. However Meno claims that this would be futile as it is paradoxical and logically impossible to inquire and learn about things that one does not know. Socrates encapsulates Meno's rationale when he says:
             He cannot search for what he knows - since he knows it, there is no need to search - nor for what he does not know, for he does ...