An interlude now follows in which the disquiet caused to the company by the foregoing criticisms is first described. This is followed by some by-play between Socrates and Phaedo, but the greater part of the section consists of an impressive warning against ‘hatred of arguments’ or intellectual apathy and excessive scepticism. Finally Socrates rallies himself and his friends to resume the discussion with a good heart.

These remarks by Simmias and Cebes had a disquieting effect on all of us; indeed we afterwards admitted to each other that, having been completely convinced by the argument preceding, we now felt disturbed and reduced to scepticism not only about what had been already asserted but as regards future arguments as well. Were we perhaps quite incompetent to judge? Did the problem, of its very nature, admit of no certain solution?

[Phaedo's narrative is now broken off, and we return to the conversation between him and Echcchrates with which the dialogue opened.]

Ech. Upon my word, Phaedo, I sympathize with you all; now that I have heard your account, the sort of question that comes into my mind is ‘What argument shall we ever rely on after this? How completely persuasive was that put forward by Socrates, yet how deeply has it been discredited!’. In point of fact, this theory of the soul being an attunement has always had a hold on me, and your statement of it served as a reminder that I had myself already come to the same conclusion.