Symposium

“”Symposium”” by Plato is a seminal philosophical text that explores the nature and purpose of love through a series of speeches delivered at a banquet. The dialogue is set at a dinner party attended by notable figures such as Socrates, Aristophanes, and Alcibiades. Each guest delivers a speech in praise of Eros, the god of love, offering varied perspectives on love’s role in human life. Phaedrus opens the discourse by emphasizing love as a great motivator for noble deeds. Pausanias distinguishes between Common and Heavenly love, advocating for the latter’s pursuit of intellectual and moral improvement. Aristophanes presents a mythological account, suggesting that humans were originally spherical beings split in half, and love is the pursuit of one’s other half. Socrates, recounting the teachings of Diotima, argues that love is a desire for eternal beauty and wisdom, culminating in the philosophical quest for truth. Alcibiades concludes by expressing his admiration for Socrates. Through these diverse perspectives, Plato’s “”Symposium”” examines love as a multifaceted and transformative force, central to the human experience and the pursuit of higher understanding. Plato (c. 427-347 BCE) was a classical Greek philosopher who founded the Academy in Athens, the first institution of higher learning in the Western world. A student of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle, Plato wrote philosophical dialogues that have profoundly influenced Western thought. His works cover various subjects, including philosophy, politics, ethics, and metaphysics. —- ISBN: 9798333129574