Symposium Essays

In The Symposium, Plato makes Eryximachus say that Socrates is undoubtedly a master of the art of love. Why? I think that he is trying to say that a great philosopher and wise man like Socrates is able to tame love and he doesn't need sexual gratification or pleasure to satisfy him. When he is interested in young boys, it doesn't mean that he is physically attracted to them, he is attracted to the fact that he can lead one of these particular boys to see the true form of beauty. Plato is trying

Through the speakers presented in Symposium, Plato showcases a variety of viewpoints about the essence, worth, and expression of love. Though it can be argued that Plato suggests that love is determined by how an individual chooses to interpret it, I will be arguing that there is a difference between true love and false love. These differences in quality of love can be seen through the ideas expressed in Pausanias’ speech, Eryximachus’ speech, and finally, Diotima’s speech. I would like to note that

Plato’s Symposium begins with Apollodorus relating the events of the dinner to an unnamed friend. The seemingly unnecessary framing of the gathering actually creates a distance between the gathering and its retelling, sets up the later frame of Socrates and Diotima by the layers of reporting, and the movement of the characters involved further explores the themes discussed in Diotima’s speech to Socrates. Altogether, Apollodorus’s initial scene sets up ideas explored later on in the symposium itself

character to his work, Symposium, with the addition of Diotima. Diotima is the only woman introduced during the all-male symposium and there is an essential understanding of life that comes from her being a woman. Symposiums that were held during the time of ancient Greece were strictly for males and their ideas. Women had no place, except for decoration.  Plato choosing to add a female figure is out of the ordinary and quite surprising.         Plato wrote the Symposium around 360 BC. During this

allows the individual to be good and noble which in return presents the educated means and a worthy life in society. How does the stranger propose to put symposium in use and what is the end of education. Symposium is an Athenian exercise that permits citizens to come together and convene and figure out and solve public and private issues. The symposium is a form of speech that

In Plato’s Symposium, the greatest minds of Athens come together for a dinner party. Instead of drinking and eating, they decide to engage in debate over “Love”. Several speeches are given; but Aristophanes, the comedic playwright, gives a stunning speech on the nature of love. Aristophanes engages his fellow companions with a story of how the humans of old disobeyed the Gods, so Zeus split them half and will threaten to do so again if they misbehave. According to ancient legend, human used to be

Plato’s Symposium opens as Apollodorus retells a story he heard that takes place at a dinner party in honor of Agathon. Eryximachus suggests that all of the patrons at the table should give a speech to praise the god of Love. Socrates, through his speech and actions, appears to argue that being in love with a person is an inferior type of love that one can experience. Agathon’s speech, the one that prompts Socrates’ reply, praises Love to be young, beautiful, sensitive and wise. Agathon believes

Lost Objectivity in the Symposium The Symposium presents several arguments about love at a group drinking party. Eryximachus suggests that each of the guests orate a speech on love and explain what love actually means. Each of the guests presents a speech on love, however; their analysis of love may not be as objective as it seems. They each have their own personal beliefs that they seem to be advancing in each of their speeches. Characters in the Symposium twist the meaning of love to fit their

Throughout Symposium the body takes on a variety of roles, with equally varied importance. The first prevalent instance of physical aesthetic in Apollodorus’ accounts – albeit not firsthand, but perhaps made ever more significant by the detail being preserved throughout multiple retellings – occurs at the very start of Apollodorus’ speaking on the matter of Aristodemus seeing Socrates and thus attending Agathon’s party with him. What is significant about this, however, is that the first detail upon

Alcohol and love, two main forces that transport one outside of themselves and into a new state of being. In Plato’s Symposium the topic is of love and the effects of alcohol become quite apparent through the introduction of Alcibiades. Prior to Alcibiades entrance, it is Eryximachus who sets the tone of the piece in regards to drinking preaching about holding oneself to a standard of moderation. Of course this is all abandoned when Alcibiades comes in. Besides their contrasting views on alcohol

I brought up a discussion to talk about the different perspective of eros in Symposium in two branches, one from the perspective from Socrates and Diotima, and the other from Phadrius and Pausians. Speech said by Socrates was a dialogue with Diotima. The implication of Diotima’s speech aids the love more than sensual. At first Diotima and Socrates eros arises as a daemon. Grandmother of Eros, Metis: beautiful, invention and composed of components of gift. This pedigree contributes Eros a combination

Lost Objectivity in the Symposium The Symposium presents several arguments about love at a group drinking party. To pass time while they drink, Eryximachus suggests that each of the guests orate a speech on love. The guests proceed to participate in oration; however, their analysis of love may not be as objective as it seems. Many of them have their own personal beliefs that they are advancing in each of their speeches. Several speeches heavily deviate from a speech about love, and turn it into

Plato’s “Symposium” is centered around the occurrence and subsequent retelling of its namesake, a drinking party or convivial discussion, especially as held in ancient Greece after a banquet. The symposium is held in celebration of Agathon's tragedy winning first prize at the Lenaean festival the previous day. Having been drinking excessively the night before Eryximachus recommends that they not drink too much this evening in the interests of their health. He suggests further that they send away

The symposium is a book constructed on Plato’s conceptions around the passionate erotic love. To Plato and others during this time love (eros) was known as a god, with such beauty and goodness that others praise and competing for its entity. As a young boy of royalty older men would advertise themselves for a chance at love (eros). This was an opportunity to raise a boy into a man, teaching all the necessary tools needed for adulthood. Some of these roles as a partner included being sexual active

In Plato’s Symposium there are multiple speeches given by the characters. These speeches aid in the pursuit to figure out exactly what love is and how it is best defined. Ultimately, the most satisfying conclusion of what love is, is drawn from Socrates’ speech. There are significant arguments made by both Socrates and Alcibiades via Diotima’s account of love and the speech of Alcibiades himself. Using the two men’s’ speeches specifically, it is proven that Socrates and Alcibiades are indeed lovers

Comparing the speeches on The Symposium I will show the role of love based on Plato, Socrates and Diotima in which I believe is to follow a pathway that leads to a state of love that is asexual, unconditional and permanently. I also believe that all philosophers were lovers. Socrates states love can be anything like the simplest need to the deepest form of love like the love of a mother and a son. According to Diotima, when love is perceived is mostly seen as beautiful and good but she argues that

After reading both Plato’s Symposium and Augustine’s Confessions, one can see how certain ideas in the latter work are found in the former one. In spite of the differences in time, men are obstructed from their pursuit of goodness, truth, and desires. Yet, among all of the speeches articulated in Symposium, Augustine would feel most connected to that of Alcibiades. Alcibiades is portrayed as an outstanding Athenian statesman, an accomplished orator, and a talented military general. And, on top of

In this paper, I will explain the deeper meaning of the passage of the Symposium in which Alcibiades crashes the party by explaining how it fits into the broader themes of the entire dialogue. As known, one of the most important theme of this dialogue is love. As I was reading the dialogue, I know right from the beginning of Phaedrus proposal that it is going to be not only entertaining but interesting. Indeed it was interesting reading what all of them has to says about what love is, what its

In Plato’s Symposium, he makes it a point to include the subject of love under the category of philosophy, along with topics such as justice and reason. Plato is one of the first philosophers to consider love worthy of serious philosophical reflection, as previously the topic of love was considered too frivolous and emotional, left to the poets to discuss. This makes Symposium atypical in contrast to other philosophical works at the time (such as those of his student Aristotle, whose works centered

Impressions of Love What is love? We hear about love almost everywhere. Love is everywhere on our televisions. It appears on shows, commercials and movies. At funerals we hear them talk about our "loved one". Greek mythology shows a deeper sense of love. In the stories "Prometheus and Io", "The Flower Myths", and "Pyramus and Thisbe", the Greeks show a deeper sense of love. Love leaves a more permanent and larger remembrance. With the death of Hera's beloved servant, she makes a memorial