Plato's views on the body-soul relationship

• Based on his dualistic understanding of the nature of the soul
• The physical body is subject to corruption and change- it imprisons the soul (psyche)
• Plato regarded the body as a source of endless trouble in its attempt to distract the soul with its fears and desires
• The soul is separate from the body and is eternal
• The soul is aware of being immaterial though its memories of the eternal world of Forms are blurred
• At death, the body perishes but the soul leaves it to return to the world of Forms- in most cases the soul is then reborn into another body, though a few remain in the eternal world
• The soul, therefore, is separate from the body but gives it life and directs it
• Psyche= the Greek word for soul or spirit