The narrative framework in platos symposium philosophy. As for the text itself, the title is quite deceptive, as it is more of a compendium or compilation of a smattering of neoplatonic ideas mixed in with classical physiology and a touch of astrology than a commentary on plato s symposium. Apollodorus tells the story of a drinking party or symposium that occurs long ago. Issues in interpretation and reception, harvard university press, 2006, 446pp. Marsilio ficino author of commentary on platos symposium. Christopher rowes edition of platos symposium aris and phillips. Secondly, there is an extensive commentary by david oconnor, not only on the symposium, but also on shelleys process and motivation of doing the translation. And the beautiful is the good, and therefore, in wanting and desiring the beautiful, love also wants and desires the good. Nature and convention man has created new worldsof language, of music, of poetry, of science. Platos conception of self and society the three parts of the soulsociety and their virtues platos relevance to contemporary psychology. The aim of this commentary is to make platos symposium as accessible as possible to intermediatelevel greek readers so that they may experience the joy, insight, and lasting influence that comes from reading some of the greatest works in classical. Combine multiple pdf files into one single pdf document. The pursuit of knowledge cannot go on forever because the knowledge we. For in philosophy as in prophecy glimpses of the future may often be conveyed in words which could hardly have been understood or interpreted at the.
Apollodorus, who repeats to his companion the dialogue which he. Richard hunter compares the symposium with the novel in antiquity, especially apuleius metamorphoses and petronius satyrica. Studies in history and philosophy of biological and biomedical sciences 41 2. In addition to focusing the dialogue on a god eros, the greek god of love, and. 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. Aug 06, 2015 this video focuses on plato s work, the symposium, and discusses the complex narrative structure of the work if youd like to support my work producing videos like this, become a patreon supporter. Rafe champions commentary on chapter 5 nature and convention. The aim of this commentary is to make platos symposium as accessible as possible to. January, 2008 james lesher, debra nails, and frisbee sheffield eds. Gorgias ethics 04 countercurrents radio podcast no. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 416 pages and is available in paperback format.
Explain at least three ways in which plato demonstrates that he has drawn upon the ideas of. It is a more populist utopia than platos, but it shares his belief that an environment which is bright and fair, wholesome and beautiful 8 will gradually, over time, have a good effect on everyone, without their necessarily noticing how and by what means it happens. Platos symposium translated here, and with a commentary is arguably one of the greatest works on the nature of love ever written. As mantinea was restored in the year 369, the composition of the dialogue will probably fall between 384 and 369. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. This barcode number lets you verify that youre getting exactly the right version or edition of a book. Soda pdf is the solution for users looking to merge multiple files into a single pdf document. Glaucon asks apollorodus, a misanthropic fan of socrates, who remembers what aristodemus remembers about the banquet to celebrate agathons winning the prize for tragedy. Categories ethics in value theory, miscellaneous categorize this paper isbns 0882146017 pbk. Darrel rutkin 2010 studies in history and philosophy of science part c. Like all of a sudden he will catch sight of something wonderfully beautiful in its nature. Having no facility with greek, i used burys commentary and the perseus digital librarys lexicon to help me make. I lectured on the debate between the socalled separtists and unitarians over whether the republic was composed of disparate, shorter pieces written at di. Genesis 23 and alcibiadess speech in platos symposium.
Here is an outline of the dialogue, followed by a summary of nygrens critique and some questions for writing and discussing socialpractical frame. Be sure to include both kinds of procreation of the body and of the soul do you think socrates preference of procreation of the soul is superior. Translated with an introduction by benjamin jowett. Commentary on platos symposium on love by marsilio ficino. The interpretation of pappus account of analysis and synthesis in terms of platos dialecticsnamely in terms of division and collection, and thus, employing the results of the present paper, in terms of periodic anthyphairesishas been given in. This new edition brings together the english translation of the renowned plato scholar and translator, seth benardete, with two illuminating commentaries on it. Several of platos dialogs refer to socrates military service. Symposium, the only dialogue devoted to one of the recognized gods strauss 2001. Platos model of the mind analogy of the divided line platos allegory of the cave 3. Free download or read online the republic pdf epub book. The national endowment for the humanities provided support for entering this text. So, you are reading not only platos works, but also a work by one of the most influential literary figure in the english world. In the spirit of freshness, i will focus on one very important section, where socrates relates the words of his teacher diotima on the. And love is of the beautiful, and therefore has not the beautiful.
Love is of something, and that which love desires is not that which love is or has. Platos symposium by plato overdrive rakuten overdrive. Then, by the command of zeus, each double creature was cut in half, and so. This video focuses on platos work, the symposium, and discusses the complex narrative structure of the work if youd like to support my work producing videos like this, become a. Love, despair, and transcendence center for future.
Plato develops this theme by drawing an analogy between philosophy and the eleusinian mysteries. Early christian writers read the dialogues ascent passage as a vision of the souls journey to heaven. Whether the recollection of the event is more likely to have been renewed at the. Click anywhere in the line to jump to another position. Take a firm grasp of this point, then, said socrates. Plato presents the symposium as a dialogue on eros, love understood as sexual desire, but its true subject is the spiritual or religious dimension of his philosophy. Symposium 4 fall 2006 5 love and divinity platos symposium paul otake socrates, through diotima, says that every soul is pregnant and the ultimate end every person seeks is immortality. Muriel spark employs a quotation from platos symposium 388366 b.
On interpreting platos charmides, new school graduate faculty philosophy journal 11 1986. Platos symposium has been a fertile source of philosophical, literary, and artistic inspiration for more than two thousand years. The symposium cannot therefore be regarded as a youthful work. In the symposium, socrates argues that love is a desire to procreate. Platos symposium is one of the acknowledged classics of ancient greek literature. In the symposium alcibiades describes socrates valour in the battles of potidaea and delium, recounting how he saved his life in the former battle 219e221b. In his symposium, plato crafted a set of speeches in praise of love that has influenced writers and artists from antiquity to the present. Feb 01, 2001 plato s symposium translated here, and with a commentary is arguably one of the greatest works on the nature of love ever written. Giovanni pico della mirandola, astrology and desire.
The pursuit of knowledge cannot go on forever because the knowledge we obtain is soon forgotten and replaced. First is the concern with the status of both the dialogue and the novels as fiction, i. Apollodorus of phaleron tells a friend about a dinner party held in 415 b. It recounts a drinking party following an evening meal, where the guests include aristophanes, alcibiades and socrates. Hide browse bar your current position in the text is marked in blue. Commentary bryn mawr commentaries, greek ancient greek and english edition 9780929524320. Socrates says he served in the athenian army during three campaigns. After listening to a long discussion by others on love, socrates weighs in with the teachings of diotima of mantinea. In plato s symposium, seven very different men get together for a. Buy commentary on platos symposium on love by ficino, marsilio, sears jayne isbn. Series of very abbreviated versions of classical philosophical works for very busy people.
In his celebrated masterpiece, symposium, plato imagines a highsociety dinnerparty in athens in 416 bc. Commentary bryn mawr commentaries, greek ancient greek and english edition ancient greek 2nd edition by gilbert p. The symposium is a philosophical text by plato dated c. The men include the philosopher socrates, the general and political figure alcibiades, and the comic playwright aristophanes. Summarize phaedruss, pausanias, eryximachus, aristophanes, and agathons view on the nature of love in platos symposium. The tragic and platonic views of the human condition among the particular gifts bequeathed to us by the formidable fourthcentury greeks are tragedy and plato. The afterlife of platos symposium in western art and ideas. Symposium as described in the class presentations by their fellow students.
The main characters of this philosophy, classics story are adeimantus, polemarchus. Platos symposium is one of the most loved classics from the ancient world, a work of consummate beauty as both philosophy and as literature, most appropriate since the topic of this dialogue is the nature of love and includes much philosophizing on beauty. 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. A course on the afterlife of platos symposium department of. The interpretation of pappus account of analysis and synthesis in terms of platos dialecticsnamely in terms of division and collection, and thus, employing the results of the present paper, in terms of periodic anthyphairesishas been given in negrepontislamprinidis2. The men include the philosopher socrates, the general and political figure alcibiades, and the comic.
Once upon a time, all human beings were double creatures, each with two heads, two bodies and eight limbs. Platos conception of human development anamnesis 2. This excerpt represents the final teachings of diotima on the pursuit of love in its most perfect form. There are two foci in plato s symposium and the traditions of ancient fiction. Pdf merge combine pdf files free tool to merge pdf online. The guestsincluding the comic poet aristophanes and plato s mentor socrateseach deliver a short speech in praise of love. But to combine the informations requires a new concept, new terms, new ways of. Lecture on platos symposium theme of the dialogue which is not really a dialogue, but a series of speeches with incidental banter. Platos symposium written circa 389bc translated by george theodoridis. We would like to show you a description here but the site wont allow us. An analysis of the argument of the symposium by plato. Apollodorus, who repeats to his companion the dialogue which he had heard from aristodemus, and had already once. The phaedrus and xenophons symposium primarily serve to either expand on ideas from platos symposium or to offer a different take on them.
His speech is an explanation of why people in love say they feel whole when they have found their love. It depicts a friendly contest of extemporaneous speeches given by a group of notable men attending a banquet. Paperback in 3 volumes with a new introduction, 1986. Pdf the republic book by plato free download 416 pages. In platos symposium, seven very different men get together for a. In addition to these substitutions, i have edited jowetts translation for punctuation, grammar, and formatting not consistent with the conventions of standard english. If of plato we can say, as ralph waldo emerson did, that we have reached the mountain from which all these drift boulders were detached qtd. Purchase a copy of this text not necessarily the same edition from. The guestsincluding the comic poet aristophanes and platos mentor socrateseach deliver a short speech in praise of love. Be clear and complete as to the essentials of each view. Ficinos commentary on the symposium inspired poets and artists throughout renaissance europe and introduced a platonic love into common speech. No file limit, no ad watermarks a free and beautiful tool to combine your pdf files exactly the way you want it.
Plato, symposium california state university, northridge. In platos advocacy of the idea, the key terms are gracefulness. 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. Of all the works of plato the symposium is the most perfect in form, and may be truly thought to contain more than any commentator has ever dreamed of. Rafe champions commentary on chapter 5 nature and convention in poppers the open. The symposium seemingly denigrates the poets, though platos own style in the dialogue and the way the discussion of love is crafted through various characters speeches points, i believe convincingly, to a much more complex relationship between plato and the poets, and philosophy and poetry. The first edition of the novel was published in 380, and was written by plato. The symposium must be understood from the end forwards, and from the top down.