Abstract Plato's "Symposium" is an account of an Athenian drinking party, attended by some of the leading cultural figures of classical Athens, in which the core of the discussion of those in attendance revolves around the nature of Eros or love. This paper explores this discussion, with particular reference to the speech of Socrates on the nature of Eros. The thesis is argued that Socrates' explication of the nature of Eros is reinforced by Alcibiades' speech, which illustrates how Socrates' philosophical position in this regard translates into his real life practices in regards to love and its pursuit.
From the Paper "Of course, not all of the participants in the discussion agree about the nature of Love, or even follow the same theme. This being said, the speech of Pausanias is particularly interesting for how he discusses contemporary Athenian legal and moral perspectives on homosexual love and, in particular, on the love of older men for young boys. Pausanias' speech is significant as it reveals that there was not a "blanket" acceptance of all homosexual relationships in Athenian society, and that there is only one way in which such a relationship would not be reprehensible: in which the relationship is oriented towards a pursuit of goodness. "
From the Paper "At the risk or resorting to clich"s, it is generally accepted that beauty means different things to different people. How did Socrates know that the attendees of the banquet would judge him based primarily on physical appearance" Perhaps he believed similar people with similar beliefs, such as pederasty, share similar views of beauty and love. Socrates is acknowledging the fact that the pederasts judge and value physical beauty above other forms. Apollodorus is not unprepared to tell us this story, if it is what he must do; but why is he prepared to tell it? What have we to learn from this? Each is free to take from The Symposium what they choose, to filter out the verbose eulogies and determine the true nature of eros for ones self. However, Socrates and Diotima's fascinating interpretation on the evolution of the perception of beauty is arguably the most compelling and revealing concept that should be extracted from this reading."
Abstract This paper reviews Plato's work "Symposium", a discussion of the philosophical nature of love, which has a complex and elaborate structure, enriched with contradictions of ideas, characters and styles. It examines how the structure of the "Symposium" moves through a series of stages, beginning with the two narrators, who attempt to be like Socrates without attempting to understand philosophy. Then come the presentations of the five would-be philosophers, then Socrates? combination of argument and story-telling, then the sensual demands of Alcibiades and finally a reconciliation of all elements. It evaluates how the intricacy of the structure and the self-conscious manner of a story within a story within a story, serve to distance the reader.
From the Paper "Aristophanes is the famous comic dramatist; once he gets over his hiccups, he paints a picture of mankind as originally being a grotesque hermaphrodite, as well as a man-man and a woman-woman compound. Because they threatened the gods, they were divided in two, and ever since have attempted to reunite with their severed other halves. In spite of the ridiculous imagery, Aristophanes makes three serious observations: man is perfected only when he is completed, love completes him, and earthly love is only a pale shadow of ideal love.
After this match between the unintentionally comic doctor and the unintentionally serious comedian, there is another comic interlude, the banter between Socrates and Agathon. Then, they continue the debate in the third and most important agon."
Abstract Plato, in the "Speech of Diotima," explains much of human beings' ability to learn to love, as this seems to distinguish them from animals. Socrates is told that a person must devote himself or herself to the love of beautiful bodies and the cultivation of their own. It is then necessary to view the beauty of people's souls as more valuable than the beauty of their bodies, and to then acquire an appreciation of the beauty of various activities and laws and, "with the result that ... the beauty of bodies is a thing of no importance". (58:210c) Sexuality seems to be referred to here, as a basic and early motivator of a greater and greater ability to perceive and appreciate beauty as the ancient Greeks believed was a most important element of the personal development of the superior person.
Analyzes Plato's conception of love and whether it allows for a love characterized by respect for individual differences by examining four different writings.
900 words (approx. 3.6 pages), 2 sources, 2002, $ 35.95
Abstract This four-page essay examines and analyzes Plato's Symposium, Nussbaum's essay, The Speech of Alcibiades: A Reading of the Symposium"; and Vlastos'essay, "The Individual as the Object of Love in Plato," in terms of whether Plato's conception of love allows for the love between individuals, a love that is characterized by respect for individual idiosyncrasies and autonomy.
Paper describes views in ancient Greece on free thinking and atheism. It is full of examples of great philosophers, such as Socrates, Pericles, and Alcibiades.
Abstract This paper looks at how the free thinking caused many accusations against Sophists for atheism, the highest level of heresy in the ancient society, a social order in which every unusual thing that happened was defined as a sign, omen, or warning from the gods.
From the Paper "The Ancient Athens, unlike any other city in Greece, gave to its citizen's the freedom, unrivaled by any other social order in the Ancient society. Every male citizen of Athens was equal by right, but the difference between the poor and the rich remained unchanged. One of the main distinctions that democratic structure of government provided, was significantly reducing risk of political take over by force. To take the power, during democracy in the Athens, first you had to deal with practically whole population of the Athens. Military take over, was no longer an option, now the power had to be obtained by the different means. The answer to this, was the art of sophism, the direct definition of which is power through the persuasion."
Tags: persecuted, philosophers, think, atheist, god
