Two Deaths, One Rooster: Competing Interpretations of Socrates’ Final Words
1. Introduction In Phaedo , Socrates’ enigmatic final words—“I owe the sacrifice of a rooster to Asklepios; will you pay that debt and not neglect to do so?”—have inspired profound philosophical inquiry. This seemingly simple statement encapsulates themes of life, death, and transcendence, leading to divergent interpretations. Gregory Nagy, in A Rooster for Asklepios: The Death and Life of Socrates , sees the reference to the god of healing as a testament to the resilience of life through the enduring power of dialogue, or logos . Friedrich Nietzsche, however, critiques this moment in Twilight of the Idols , interpreting it as evidence of Socrates’ ultimate disillusionment with life, declaring, “Even Socrates had had enough.” These contrasting interpretations frame the tension between two philosophical legacies: one celebrating renewal and continuity, the other exposing resignation and a rejection of vitality. This article explores how these perspectives reflect broader attitudes...