Essay Platos Symposium - 1171 Words

Platos Symposium Platos metaphor of the divided line is essentially two worlds; the world of opinion (the physical world or the world of becoming/existence) and the world of knowledge (the world of knowledge or the world of being/essence). This concept is key to the context of The Symposium: Love. It is important to note that as the speeches evolve throughout this particular work they parallel this concept. Plato has, in this writers opinion, reinforced his theory through the speakers by outlining the journey from the world of becoming (Phaedrus speech) to the world of being (Diotimas speech). This being so, Diotima and Socrates (the forms) will be the key focus for which all previous speakers will ascend each†¦show more content†¦He introduces Heavenly Aphrodite (heavenly love), which this writer believes equates with homosexual love, and Common Aphrodite (common love), which would be equivalent to heterosexual love. Common love according to his view is one that is based on sensuality and produces children. Heavenly love is based on companionship and involves mental and soul oriented pursuits. He places a great deal of emphasis on virtue. He goes on to say that heavenly love is good and only becomes ugly if a lovers motive is exploitation. Pausanias has brought out one of Diotimas major points, the idea of duality in love, although he is not as thorough. His overall outlook seems to be mainly homosexual, yet recognizes heterosexual love. Next, Eryximachus speaks. He compliments Pausanias on his explanation of the dual nature of love and argues that there should be a balance between the two. He elaborates on that by saying both types are required for a peaceful existence; one can not exist with out the other. He uses an analogy that equates love with an ailment. It can be removed or implanted. Basically he alludes to a bond or bridge between the two types of love which Diotima expands on. Aristophanes finally gets rid of his hiccups. He attempts to explain love by introducing a myth in which Zeus splits three typesShow MoreRelatedEssay on Platos Symposium692 Words   |  3 PagesThough not as philosophical as many of Platos other works, The Symposium gives a greater in depth account and characterization into the social life of the intellectual circles in Ancient Greece. The eulogies from each of the philosophers at the discussion examine the origins and theories of love in its many forms. Several of the theories and themes discussed in The Symposium are repeated as well as contrasted by each of the orators. The themes of physical love and lust, and reproduction are mostRead More Platos Symposium Essay1797 Words   |  8 PagesPlatos Symposium   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  What is the meaning of love? What does love feel like? How does love come about? No one can truly explain it, yet somehow its understood. In Platos Symposium, a dinner party was held with the discussion of love as the main topic. Everyone was required to make a speech, an ode to Love, the spirit. The philosopher, Socrates gave his speech last, claiming that his speech was merely a repetition of what a wise woman named Diotima once told him. The speech was a powerfulRead More Context and Contradictions in Platos Phaedrus and Platos Symposium1970 Words   |  8 PagesContext and Contradictions in Platos Phaedrus and Platos Symposium It is well known that Plato, a devoted student of Socrates, chronicled many of Socrates speeches and conversations. Every so often one can find instances where Socrates and other players in these conversations seem to contradict themselves, or at least muddle their arguments. One such occurrence of this is in Platos Symposium and Platos Phaedrus. 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In Platos Symposium, Plato speaks of many different types of love, loves that can be taken as lust as well. He writes about seven different points of view on love coming from the speakers that attend the symposium in honorRead MorePlatos Symposium : The Nature Of Love1592 Words   |  7 Pages Plato’s Symposium describes the nature of love to be the driving force towards immortality. Aristophanes perpetuates this idea through his allegorical description of human’s original nature, and the component of the driving force of love within that nature. The underlying goal of this force of love is immortality, though he does not directly articulate it in his speech. It is with the emergence of Socrates’ ideas that we are equ ipped with sufficient evidence reinforcing Aristophanes’ story to be