Name: Symposium
Author: Plato
ISBN: 9780191605499

Symposium

Plato

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Author Description

In his celebrated masterpiece, Symposium, Plato imagines a high-society dinner-party 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. The sequence of dazzling speeches culminates in Socrates' famous account of the views of Diotima, a prophetess who taught him that love is our means of trying to attain goodness. And then into the party bursts the drunken Alcibiades, the most popular and notorious Athenian of the time, who insists on praising Socrates himself rather than love, and gives us a brilliant sketch of this enigmatic character. The power, humour, and pathos of Plato's creation engages the reader on every page. This new translation is complemented by full explanatory notes and an illuminating introduction. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

Menrva's Summary

THE THESIS

This work investigates the nature, origin, and purpose of love through a series of philosophical speeches delivered at an Athenian banquet. Plato, a foundational figure in Western philosophy, utilizes the dialogue format to present competing definitions of Eros, moving from physical desire to the pursuit of absolute beauty and goodness. The text serves as a primary source for understanding Socratic methodology and the intellectual climate of 5th-century BC Athens.

THE SCOPE MAP

What You Will Find

A series of seven speeches delivered by historical figures including Aristophanes, Agathon, and Socrates.
The philosophical framework of the 'Ladder of Love' as taught by the prophetess Diotima.
Historical context regarding Athenian social customs and the role of the symposium.

Scope Limits

The text does not provide a comprehensive history of the Peloponnesian War.
It does not offer a modern psychological analysis of interpersonal relationships.

THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE

Scholars and students alike regard this text as a foundational document for the study of Western aesthetics and ethics. Readers frequently note the accessibility of the dialogue format, though they acknowledge the depth of the metaphysical arguments presented in the final sections.

Page Count:
164

Publication Date:
1998-01-01

Publisher:
OUP Oxford

ISBN-10:
0191605492

ISBN-13:
9780191605499

Philosophy

Classical

Plato

History & Surveys

Love

Ancient Greek

Ethics