PHÆDON, a disciple of Socrates, who had been seized by pirates in his youth; and the philosopher, who seemed to discover something uncommon and promising in his countenance, bought his liberty for a sum of money, and ever after esteemed him. Phædon, after Socrates's death, returned to Elis his native country, where he founded a sect of philosophers who composed what was called the Eleatic school. The name of Phædon is affixed to one of Plato's dialogues.