Aug 25, 2005 buy the symposium penguin great ideas new ed by plato isbn. Saunders, plato on women in the laws edited by anton powell, london and new york. You said, i think, that the troubles among the gods were composed by love of beauty, for there. Phaedrus, but did teach plato much of what he knew, as is assumed by many. His teacher, socrates, chose not to write anything down in books or treatises re. Symposium is central in platos philosophy, since it talks about love and ideas. In plato s symposium, seven very different men get together for a. What does diotima give as the result of communion with absolute beauty. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1, 2, or 3 months new customers receive 15% off your. Alcibiades and his speech play a crucial role in the symposium, because they serve as a platonic image complementing socrates speech.
But this is the basic idea of whats meant by diotimas ladder. Why is pregnancy so central to diotima s account of love. According to diotima, love is not a god at all, but is rather a spirit that mediates between people and the objects of their desire. Study questions on plato s symposium in the symposium, plato gives us one of the most closeup and personal pictures of socrates we have. Eros and the three sexes in platos symposium michael groneberg even the lover of myth philomythos is in a sense a lover of wisdom philosophos, for myth is composed of wonders. Socrates himself never wrote a line that we know of. According to apollodorus, soon after aristodemus and socrates arrive at. If you want to know what the beautiful itself is, join the club. 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 essaylike speeches from differing points of view. Diotima was an ancient greek prophetess and philosopher thought to have lived circa 440 b.
The significance of alcibiades and his speech in platos. Both of these instances in platos dialogue have been used to argue for her existence. The sequence of dazzling speeches culminates in socrates famous account of the views of diotima, a prophetess who taught him that love is our. Love and beauty in plato s symposium it is a widely held view that according to the symposium the ultimate or primary object of love is the form of beauty. A discussion on the theme of love took place at this symposium, a discussion which has since become famous. The symposium quotes by plato goodreads share book. She describes eros, not as philanthropic or giving or helping for humans, but rather as always poor and far from being tender and beautiful, as the many believe and as being tough, squalid. The guests decide not to get drunk, but drinking a little and discuss about love.
This is not a forum for general discussion of the articles subject put new text under old text. The text has been credited with influencing how western literature portrays and interprets love and beauty. Agathon, pausanias, and diotima in plato s symposium. Feminist interpretations of plato edited by nancy tuana. Symposium by plato diotima questions socrates and the. This critical guide to plato s symposium fits the mold admirably. Its about a contest at a mens banquet, involving impromptu philosophical speeches in praise of eros, the greek god of love and sexual desire. In it, she revives diotimas dialogue with socrates in platos symposium, challenging past approaches to. The guestsincluding the comic poet aristophanes and plato s mentor socrateseach deliver a short speech in praise of love. Kevin corrigan, and elena glazovcorrigan its literary sensibility and systematic lucidity make this work a remarkable contribution to the debates concerning plato s symposium as well as the vexata quaestio of the relation between poetry and philosophy or, more broadly, art, literature, imagination, and thinking. It is a discussion on the nature of love, taking the form of a group of speeches, both satirical. The love ladder is more complex and nuanced than this, and theres a great deal of psychology at work here. Nancy tuana is professor of philosophy at the university of oregon and author of several books, including most recently the less noble sex.
A reading of plato s symposium, diotima s speech translated by eleanor h. In the end, they summarized the ideas based on the teachings of a priestess, diotima. Plato s symposium and the traditions of ancient fiction, richard hunter 14. Eros, woundedness, and creativity in platos symposium. Aristophanes account of love in platos symposium essay. In the symposium, diotima puts forth ideas that are different from both socratess and platos, thereby representing a different philosophical position. The dramatic nature of plato s dialogues is delightfully evident in symposium. Kuykendall sorcerer love is the name that luce irigaray gives to the demonic function of. This study guide consists of approximately 29 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of symposium.
Plato wrote the symposium about the ancient athenian cultural tradition in which men would drink, discuss philosophical subjects, compose speeches and sing songs. Plato s famous piece of literature, the symposium, is striking with its speeches of love, or eros, which translates to desire. On one level the book deals with the genealogy, nature and purpose of love, on another level the book deals with the topic of knowledge, specifically how does one know what one knows. Diotimas ladder of love, also known as plato s ladder of love or plato s ladder of eros is a philosophy of different types of love that originated in platos symposium. This is the discourse between socrates and diotima from plato s symposium. The symposium is one of plato s most beloved and widely read dialogues. This is the talk page for discussing improvements to the symposium plato article. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
Paradoxes in platos symposium volume 14 issue 2 steven lowenstam. According to socrates in the republic, images serve as a first step on the path to understanding imagination is the first part of the divided line the republic, 511 d, and thus are the most accessible form in which somebody can be put on the path to knowledge. In the final section, where plato s revered teacher, socrates, recalls how he went to the seer diotima of mantinea and she told him that love was a ladder, on which one progressed from physical. Nyes book is a worthy contribution to this project. The guests decide not to get drunk, but drinking a. Purchase a copy of this text not necessarily the same edition from. Diotima s speech describes eros at its last stage before reaching the finality of eternal contemplation, as the place. Describe in item either the history of love offered by aristophanes or socrates diotima. Plato s styles and characters, between literature and philosophy, university of brasilia, august 222012. The symposium is a philosophical text by plato dated c.
Plato s symposium and diotima s ladder of love plato s dialogue the symposium is one of the key texts of the platonic tradition. Against those who read the symposium s ladder of love as a move away from loving the ordinary and imperfect, i advocate an understanding of philosophy that retains a care for the imperfect and ordinary. Platos symposium by plato on free audio book download. Session begins with a reading of socrates speech and his dialogue with diotima on the subject of love. The national endowment for the humanities provided support for entering this text.
Scientific, religious, and philosophical conceptions of womans nature indiana, 1993. The question and answer section for symposium by plato is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel. In plato s symposium drinking together, he introduced the teachings of a woman whom socrates claimed was wise about eros and many other things. The symposium sparknotes philosophy guide making the reading experience fun. Cambridge university press, 2008 it may sound like the setup for a joke a playwright, a philosopher, and a general walk into party. What statements could be given for believing that this is the right construct of love. Amelie oksenberg rorty, as diotima saw socrates, arion 4. In his celebrated masterpiece, symposium, plato imagines a highsociety dinnerparty in athens in 416 bc at which the guests including the comic poet aristophanes and, of course, plato s mentor socrates each deliver a short speech in praise of love. He has already given one party, the previous evening. Sparknotes philosophy guides are onestop guides to the great works of philosophymasterpieces that stand at the foundations of western thought.
Symposium establishes philosophy and the life of the philosopher as critical to the good life. The hangover of plato s symposium in the italian renaissance from bruni 1435 to castiglione 1528, diskin clay 16. Pomeroy, feminism in book v of plato s republic, apeiron 8 1974 3235. The surprising influence of the symposium on legal theory, jeffrey carnes part iv. Platos symposium and diotimas ladder of love platos dialogue the symposium is one of the key texts of the platonic tradition. Love is neither wise nor beautiful, but is rather the desire for wisdom and beauty. While eros will refer to love in this paper, eros is also the name of the greek god of love. A reading of platos symposium, diotimas speech luce irigaray translated by eleanor h. Plato, of course, is the author of so many dialogs that are, individually and collectively, intricate and mind blowing works. The marriage between character and thought bursts forth as the guests gather at agathons house to celebrate the success of his first tragedy. Plato symposium 206c212c diotima s speech 1 duration. Now recall also what it was that you declared in your speech to be the object of love. Platos symposium translated by tom griffith the poet agathon hosted a symposium to celebrate victory in his first dramatic competition, the dionysia of 416 bc.
Symposium by plato diotima questions socrates and the speech. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. Plato s symposium contains several fascinating histories of the nature of love. Unlike others in the symposium, diotima introduces eross parents as poros resource and penia poverty, at the plotting of penia while poros was drunk on nectar they become impregnated with eros. Explain at least three ways in which plato demonstrates that he has drawn upon the ideas of. The greek word sumposion means a drinking party a fact shamefully ignored by the organizers of modern symposia, and the party described in plato s symposium is one supposedly given in the year 416 bc by the playwright agathon to celebrate his victory in the dramatic festival of the lenaea. It depicts a friendly contest of extemporaneous speeches given by a group of notable men attending a banquet. Symposium and second that object must be something of which he is at present in want.
Paradoxes in platos symposium ramus cambridge core. So dialogue plays a smaller role in the symposium than it does in plato s other dialogues. Socrates had a speech contest of praising eros, the goddess of love. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. Sep 07, 2016 this is the discourse between socrates and diotima from plato s symposium. Inside each philosophy guide youll find insightful overviews of great philosophical works of the western world. At the start of the dialogue the party agreed that each man no women present would make the finest speech he could in praise of eros. Be certain to explicate you grounds for taking the place that you do. For my money a good translation, very readable and entertaining and good forward explaining the work, which i read afterwards.
Socratess discourse on love is the centerpiece of the dialogue and, in part, a refutation of agathons onesided speech on the topic. Paul allen miller argues that the debates that emerged from the burgeoning of feminist intellectual life in postmodern france involved complex, structured, and reciprocal exchanges on the interpretation and position. Quoting diotima questioning socrates, plato adds another layer of distance from the reader. In the dialogue, her ideas are the origin of the concept of platonic love. In platos symposium, the priestess diotima, whom socrates introduces as an.
Instead, plato introduces diotima as a prophetic figure who does know the truth about love and who can lead socrates toward it. The greek word sumposion means a drinking party a fact shamefully ignored by the organizers of modern symposia, and the party described in plato s symposium is one supposedly given in the year 416 bc by the playwright agathon to celebrate his victory i. Symposium by plato diotima questions socrates and the speech of diotima summary and analysis. Sep 07, 2016 the dramatic nature of plato s dialogues is delightfully evident in symposium.
Socrates and diotima from platos symposium youtube. And the introduction admirably presents both basic. The work itself is believed to have been composed sometime between 385 bc and 370 bc. This conversation occurred at an unspecified time previous to the dinner and may actually be a fictitious conversationdiotima is generally regarded a fictional creation of socrates within the dialogues. Platos symposium plato philosophy learn with flashcards, games, and more for free. Diotima s ascent to beauty symposium 201212 i n plato s philosophy, god is termed the good, or the form of the good. At one point in the book, the reader gets an impression about the speakers favoring homosexuality as some of them argue about the purity of love more in the.
Socrates and aristodemus will attend a banquet at agathon, with aristophanes, appolodore, pausanias and eryximachus. In his dialogues, plato describes three different means of ascent by which the mind may ascend to the good in contemplation. With wit and insight, they all present their ideas about love from erixymachus scientific naturalism to aristophanes comic fantasy. Giving specific attention to diotima speech is imperative to understanding to the role of ideas in real life. In his celebrated masterpiece, symposium, plato imagines a highsociety dinnerparty in athens in 416 bc. Buy the symposium penguin classics rev ed by plato, christopher gill isbn. Agreeing with agathon that love is deeply connected to the ideas of goodness and beauty, socrates nonetheless insists the connection is more complex than agathon has suggested.
Symposium is central in plato s philosophy, since it talks about love and ideas. The symposium by plato exposes a set of dialogues and speeches of the leading philosophers of that historical period. Chapter five examines the links between eros and vulnerability. Paper given at the first latin american area conference of the international plato society and x archai international seminar. Full text of the symposium of plato, internet archive. Symposium the ladder of love by allan bloom on plato s symposium by seth benardete includes bibliographical references counter plato, allan bloom wrote, is the most erotic of philosophers, and his symposium is one of the greatest works on the nature of love ever written. Socrates is renowned for his dialectic approach to knowledge often referred to as the socratic. Together, this book has been designed in such a way that, once readers have mastered the core list, they will be able to rely solely on the greek. Aristodemus, who was present, reported the conversation to phoinix and apollodorus. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of the symposium and what it means. Platos symposium lecture outline the good life at a great price. A model of the kind of text one needs for lecture courses. Aristotle1 platos symposium contains some myths treating matters of gender and erotics.
Alexei ratmansky makes a ballet about love the new yorker. The symposium is a collection of dinner conversations in the subject of love and whilst very of its time, still relevant today. A macat analysis of plato s the symposium translated by m. Socrates speech and diotima and now, taking my leave of you, i would rehearse a tale of love which i heard from diotima of mantineia, a woman wise in this and in many other kinds of knowledge, who in the days of old, when the athenians offered sacrifice before the coming of the plague, delayed the disease ten years. Its theme is eroserotic love, the allconsuming passion that has inspired countless poems, plays, novels, songs, operas and in our day movies. Diotima of mantinea was an ancient greek prophetess and philosopher thought to have lived circa 440 b. However, there is a line in platos symposium in which diotima defines eros as a great daimon, adding that the whole of the daimonic is. Socrates then relates a story he was told by a wise woman called diotima.
For full text, click here after listening to a long discussion by others on love, socrates weighs in with the teachings of diotima of mantinea. A symposium is a semiformal banquet consisting of only men, followed by ceremonial toasts and. The unexpected arrival of alcibiades breaks the spell cast by diotimas ethereal climb up the staircase of love to beauty itself. The greek word sumposion means a drinking party a fact shamefully ignored by the organizers of modern symposia, and the party described in plato s symposium is one supposedly given in the year 416 bc by the. My first foray into plato and a good place to start an easy going quick read book. Plato, we do well to remember, is not bound to say all he knows in every dialogue. Diotima is introduced to perpetuate the dialogue and to speak from a position of authority about love. And now, taking my leave of you, i would rehearse a tale of love which i heard from diotima of mantineia, a woman wise in this and in many other kinds of knowledge, who in the days of old, when the athenians offered sacrifice before the coming of the plague, delayed the disease ten years. Philosophers have been grappling with the question since plato put it. Jun 11, 2019 according to diotima, love is not a god at all, but is rather a spirit that mediates between people and the objects of their desire. Apollodorus tells the story of a drinking party or symposium that occurs long ago.
61 625 1511 468 737 815 846 1296 488 748 1477 1169 916 1265 125 70 54 1078 149 1073 491 622 1366 1637 1431 1549 484 1225 1102 874 868 297 1007 104 812 1473 886 347 1230 1315