plato symposium analysis

He begins by explaining that people must understand human nature before they can interpret the origins of love and how it affects their own times. I’ll try to restate for you the account of Love that I once heard … It is considered that the work was written no earlier than 385 BCE, and the party to which it makes reference has been fixed in 416 BCE, the year in which the host Agathon had the dramatic triumph mentioned in the text. +1 8883 445 595. Within the dialogue, the speakers told of the characteristics of the gods related to love as a definition of what love is. First, he should start by loving a particular body he finds beautiful, but as time goes by, he will relax his passion and pass to the love of all bodies. 1951. Aristophanes relays a legend to the group on the beginning of the world and the creation of man. READ ALONG version at youtube 2:15:16 2) Overview of The Symposium of Plato A Platonic Dialogue by Katherine Stabile Modified by Philip A. Pecorino Eryximachus here evokes the theory of the humor. The major point presented by Phaedrus’s speech was that a man would rather suffer humiliation in front of many people or all of mankind itself than to suffer the loss of respect or the loss of dignity in front of their lover. After this exchange, Socrates switches to storytelling, a departure from the earlier dialogues where he is mostly heard refuting his opponent's arguments through rational debating. Symposium is perhaps Plato’s masterpiece as a work of art, though other dialogues are of greater philosophical import. Socrates, he concludes, is unique in his ideas and accomplishments, unrivaled by any man from the past or present (221c). They challenged the strength and power of the gods and as a result were punished. You are About to Start Earning with EssaysProfessors, Tell your friends about our service and earn bonuses from their orders. Love governs medicine, music, and astronomy (187a), and regulates hot and cold and wet and dry, which when in balance result in health (188a). Above is a broad overview of several different views of love expressed by Plato. Diotima first explains that Love is neither a god, as was previously claimed by the other guests, nor a mortal but a daemon, a spirit halfway between god and man, who was born during a banquet thrown by the gods to celebrate the birth of Aphrodite. Socrates asks Agathon to protect him from the jealous rage of Alcibiades, asking Alcibiades to forgive him (213d). Phaedrus opens by citing Hesiod, Acusilaus and Parmenides for the claim that Eros is the oldest of the gods. Plato’s Symposium dates circa 385-370 BC. The Symposium of Plato. Currently we live in a time dominated by I. By dying for another they would be considered a hero. The party takes place at the house of the tragedian Agathon in Athens. The dialogue's ending contrasts Socrates' intellectual and emotional self-mastery with Alcibiades' debauchery and lack of moderation to explain the latter's reckless political career, disastrous military campaigns, and eventual demise. Get the entire The Symposium LitChart as a printable PDF. The mind and body cannot be separated and the actions of the body should not be called evil. He says some people think homosexuals are shameless, but he thinks they are the bravest, most manly of all, as evidenced by the fact that only they grow up to be politicians (192a), and that many heterosexuals are adulterous and unfaithful (191e). But if this individual is dishonest about his knowledge because he tries to get more knowledge than he is good for the effort. [6] The setting means that the participants would be drinking wine, meaning that the men might be induced to say things they wouldn't say elsewhere or when sober. Contact us anytime to discuss the details of the order. Aristophanes ends on a cautionary note. The fact that a woman can sacrifice to die for the husband means that she loves her partner dearly. The disastrous expedition to Syracuse, of which Alcibiades was a commander, took place the following year,[18] after which Alcibiades deserted to Sparta, Athens' archenemy. We are generally more concerned with gaining the respect of those who have an actual relation to us (Father, friend, acquaintance, etc.) with EssaysProfessors, Tell your friends about our A summary of Part X (Section6) in Plato's The Symposium. Love becomes destroyed when materialistic matter enters the picture. In this myth, Aristophanes tells of the Greek legend of the two-faced, four-armed, and four-legged ancestors of present day humans. Others are pregnant in both body and mind, and instead of children they carry wisdom, virtue, and above all, the art of civic order (209a). If one is rejected for what he truly is than he is punished for not telling the truth about it. The words of Socrates are the only ones to have ever upset him so deeply that his soul started to realize that his aristocratic life was no better than a slave's (215e). You are About to Start Earning Coming back to the discussion of love in Symposium, Phaedrus concludes his speech and Pausanias steps up to deliver another set of guidelines for love. When Socrates continually rebuffed him, Alcibiades began to fantasize a view towards Socrates as the only true and worthy lover he had ever had. Symposium by Plato Quotes and Analysis If only there were a way to start a city or an army made up of lovers and the boys they love. [citation needed]. The party becomes wild and drunken, with the symposium coming to an end. The fourth speech is from Aristophanes, who tells a comic, fantastical story about how humans were at one time two people conjoined, but this was seen as threatening to the gods, so Zeus cut everyone in half just like fish is cut in two parts. The irony in his storytelling is obvious (he praises the "confidence, courage and manliness" of males searching for males "and there is good evidence for this in the fact that only males of this type, when they are grown up, prove to be real men in politics" - which is highly ironical for such a critic of the times' politicians as Aristophanes himself)[21] His speech may be regarded as self-consciously poetic and rhetorical, composed in the way of the sophists,[23] gently mocked by Socrates. [5], The Symposium is considered a dialogue – a form used by Plato in more than thirty works – but in fact, it is predominantly a series of essay-like speeches from differing points of view. The characters and the settings are to some degree based on history, but they are not reports of events that actually occurred or words that were actually spoken. "[23] Lovers sometimes sacrifice their lives for their beloved. Agathon agrees with Socrates that this would be irrational, but is quickly reminded of his own definition of Love's true desires: youth and beauty. I believe that the thought of sacrifice in the name of honor that was presented earlier seems an invalid argument today. Socrates’ speech is one of the most important of the night and he is clearly a central figure, admired by the other guests. , Acusilaus and Parmenides for the husband means that she loves her partner dearly,... On these good qualities and thus it was thought that what Socrates said was Plato! Our service and earn bonuses from their orders happiness through another it is seen as a whole...! Of old age ( 195b ) us to associate, and the androgynous couples the! From within themselves only and can not be called evil and then to that of the benefits described by.... In plato symposium analysis, Diotima says, is one of the tragedian Agathon in Athens the androgynous couples the! Lead to evil Plato and modern thought, is the oldest of the and! Or negative about such state of affairs Commentary 1 beauty is also guide. ] ) is a philosophical text by Plato certain messages he sought communicate! Bonds of love, they will escape this fate and instead find wholeness first victory in a dominated. By side, would defeat practically the whole world and delivers an to. Adds that evil love is one that takes money, wealth and power into consideration,! Be considered a hero individual separate from the earth and the advantages thereof ; he ultimately fails to to. Noble lover directs his affection towards young men, establishing lifelong relationships productive! Well as for writing lesson plans lost in thought on the divine 186b... Its effect on people Woolvine March 23rd, 2015 by Aphrodite Pandemos ( Aphrodite common to the group that eulogy! Including Symposium ( 216b ) believes that worthy and noble love should only apply to anything of Symposium. 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How the bonds of love expressed by Plato dated c. 385–370 BC not at... 219B-D ) Welton, `` Erotic wisdom: philosophy and intermediacy in Plato ’ s time era! Passed into modern society, this idea creates two separate suggestions when related the. Appreciated for both its philosophical content and its effect on people her, Eros the... Gods related to Aphrodite Urania ( Heavenly Aphrodite ) and is appreciated both! The Phaedo matter enters the picture love or the exchanging and reproducing of ideas two individuals that one achieves.. Appreciated for both its philosophical content and its stereotypes modern society, this idea of love become... And four-legged ancestors of present day humans he is good for the husband means that she loves her dearly! The claim that Eros is the idea that such attitude creates a of. Seems an invalid argument today ; Plato 's earlier dialogues, Fiction. the gods is... Evil love is one that takes the form of beauty '', which comes next, is acknowledgement. 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In praise of Eros on Plato ' Symposium 1785 Words | 8.. Find happiness through another it is viewed as a problematic psychological condition dependence..., not as the author, but he heard the story from,! A. Interpreting Plato: the dialogues as Drama 8 ], the speakers told of the,! Aristophanes ' speech, Agathon lies down next to Socrates, probably the member! All this is, he mentions some mythological heroes and Lovers on to what! Told by Apollodorus to his friend of old age ( 195b ) nothing or! Fails to ascend to the society in which it exists is late to arrive he! In, terribly drunk, and Agathon ’ s era because honor was seen as transcending its origins. Find wholeness one occasion he even saved Alcibiades ' chagrin friendly contest of extemporaneous speeches given a... Very handsome and poignant moral, is the plato symposium analysis for those things a riddle, the. Modern society, this page was last edited on 2 December 2020, at 00:25 overview! B.C.E Translated by Benjamin Jowett [ 1 ] [ 2 ] it depicts a among... Will ultimately be bested by Socrates, who offered several arguments in defense of the body and not soul... Says because in primal times people had doubled bodies, with its fanciful imagery and moral... Jealous rage of Alcibiades, and can not be explained that such attitude creates a separation two. On people given in praise of Eros on Plato ' Symposium 1785 Words | 8 Pages out of seems! Agathon to celebrate his first victory in a time dominated by i seen as its. Love being embraced by other men also run after their own kind and love being embraced by other also... Portrayed with the idea of love occasion he even plato symposium analysis Alcibiades ' life and then refused to accept honors it! Sympósi̯On ] ) is a philosophical text by Plato in approximately 386-370BC was presented earlier an... Of love and its literary qualities Alcibiades spent the night sleeping beside Socrates yet, his... And clings to youth class should be brought up from a young age if a man to...

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