Therefore, Socrates believes that since the truth is always inside the soul, then it must be immortal. The soul has all knowledge, and through the process of recollection, one can recover this information. .
Phaedo, the second dialogue of Plato's theory, states that only through the forms and absolutes, an individual can have knowledge. It has been questioned how society can have the knowledge of an absolute if we haven't discovered said absolute. Socrates reflects, "The thing which I see aims at being like some other thing, but falls short of and cannot be like that other thing, and is inferior." "(The Search for Knowledge 90). That is to say that in order to have the understanding of an absolute of something, we can derive its meaning from the things that do not meet the requirements. In addition, to derive the conceptualization of an absolute, an individual can only use the senses one is given. As well, Socrates declares, "From the senses then is derived the conception that all sensible equals aim at an absolute equality of which they fall short " (The Search for Knowledge 90). As a result, the senses can only see the items that come close to being equal or beautiful, but are not perfect in being equal or beautiful. It is how these items are perceived that one's opinion will fall short of reality. .
The other Platonic idea that is shown in the Phaedo is the idea of the immortality of the soul. Socrates claims, "If we acquired this knowledge before we were born, and were born having the use of it, then we also know before we were born " (The Search for Knowledge 90). This states that the soul contains in the moment and before/after life, the knowledge of: the absolute ideas of equality, beauty, goodness, justice and holiness. Socrates also states, "Either we all have this knowledge at birth, and continue to know through life; or after birth, those who are said to learn only recollect.
