Phädon, oder über die Unsterblichkeit der Seele

Phädon, oder über die Unsterblichkeit der Seele (1767), or Phaedo, or on the Immortality of the Soul, is a philosophical work by Moses Mendelssohn. In this book, Mendelssohn defends the concept of the soul's immortality against the prevailing materialistic philosophies of his time. The title of the work is a direct reference to Plato's dialogue Phaedo, indicating Mendelssohn's respect for Plato's philosophical inquiries. Mendelssohn, a prominent figure in the Jewish Enlightenment (Haskalah), aimed to bridge Jewish tradition with modern European thought. His work contributed to the broader intellectual discourse of the Enlightenment era by engaging with fundamental questions about existence and the nature of the soul.12