One of the most famous works of literature in the western world, platos symposium is also one of the most entertaining. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. In platos symposium, characters examine not only the modern phenomenon of love, but also the god of love, eros, and his intricate character. They may not contain anything new, just remarks on one of platos greatest works written after confronting common contemporary perceptions of socrates and, more genrally, greek philosophical thought, with what is actually described in the book. The men there talk and drink and then decide that each should give a speech in praise of the god, love. The text has been credited with influencing how western literature portrays and interprets love and beauty. The sequence of dazzling speeches culminates in socrates famous account of the views of diotima, a prophetess who taught him that love is. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. Platos symposium is an exceptionally multilayered dialogue. How and why love should be praised in platos symposium philosophy core concepts duration.
Possible ex library copy, will have the markings and stickers associated from the library. 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. As mantinea was restored in the year 369, the composition of the dialogue will probably fall between 384 and 369. From a general summary to chapter summaries to explanations of famous quotes, the sparknotes the symposium study guide has everything you need to ace quizzes, tests, and essays. Sep 06, 2012 how and why love should be praised in plato s symposium philosophy core concepts duration. The symposium summary from litcharts the creators of sparknotes. Click download or read online button to get plato the symposium book now. Platos symposium this dialogue is unlike the others of plato, in as much as, socrates does not question the others in the dialectical fashion, except briefly. Apr 17, 2017 plato wrote the symposium about the ancient athenian cultural tradition in which men would drink, discuss philosophical subjects, compose speeches and sing songs. 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 himself arguably never advances any doctrines of his own. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 1 pages and is available in paperback format. An analysis of his doctrine on love in the symposium and phaedrus introduction love is a human fact, something that happens to humans.
The good life of the philosopher depends on critical selfawareness. Read a brief overview of the work, or chapter by chapter summaries. Symposium is central in plato s philosophy, since it talks about love and ideas. Instead the various speakers take turns, as it were, each offering what he knows from his own perspective and then socrates presents a view that can place the others within a grander. Plato the symposium download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. The speeches are to be given in praise of eros, the god of love and desire. Socrates and aristodemus go to a party given for agathon, since agathon has just won a contest for the performance of his tragedy. Take a firm grasp of this point, then, said socrates, remembering also, though you may keep it to yourself for the moment, what it is that love is love of.
It is a kind of extended conversation that embraces a central argument, an argument that is advanced. 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. Not only do adventurers, explorers, pirates, sailors, foreigners, decadents, democrats all hang out on the docks, it. However, if you must read 1 and only 1 book, i would stay with allens. They may not contain anything new, just remarks on one of platos greatest works written after confronting common contemporary perceptions of socrates and, more genrally, greek philosophical thought. It is also the most lavishly literary of plato s dialoguesa virtuoso prose performance in which the author, like a playful maestro, shows off an entire repertoire of characters, ideas, contrasting viewpoints, and iridescent styles. Plato s symposium is an exceptionally multilayered dialogue. However, if you must read 1 and only 1 book, i would stay with allen s. The symposium is a deft interweaving of different viewpoints and ideas about the nature of loveas a response to beauty, a cosmic force, a motive for social action and as a means of ethical education. Whether the recollection of the event is more likely to have been renewed at the destruction or restoration of the city, rather than at some intermediate period, is a. It depicts a friendly contest of extemporaneous speeches given.
Apollodorus, who repeats to his companion the dialogue which he had heard from aristodemus, and had already once narrated to glaucon. Benardetes on platos symposium and allan blooms provocative essay. Socrates attempts to prove that the philosopher is best suited to rule. Symposium study guide contains a biography of plato, literature essays, a complete etext, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. The symposium that plato describes has seven menphaedrus, pausanias, aristophanes, eryximachus, agathon, socrates, and alcibiadesfind entertainment in giving speeches that praise love encomiums. The men include the philosopher socrates, the general and political figure alcibiades, and the comic. Starting with book i, then, socrates is telling the story, after the fact, of his night in the piraeus, the port of athens.
The symposium is both a literary and historical masterpiece. 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 text and facing commentary and not need to turn a page or consult outside dictionaries as they read. Inside each philosophy guide youll find insightful overviews of great philosophical works of the western. The dramatic dialogue concerns itself with the origin, purpose, and nature of love, or eros, through a series of speeches by men at a symposion. The first edition of the novel was published in 385, and was written by plato.
Plato wrote the symposium about the ancient athenian cultural tradition in which men would drink, discuss philosophical subjects, compose speeches and sing songs. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of plato c. Symposium establishes philosophy and the life of the philosopher as critical to the good life. Benardetes on platos symposium and allan blooms provocative essay, the. About platos republic book summaries, test preparation. This new edition brings together the english translation of the renowned plato scholar and translator, seth benardete, with two illuminating commentaries on it. In his celebrated masterpiece, symposium, plato imagines a highsociety dinnerparty in athens in 416 bc. The guests decide not to get drunk, but drinking a little and discuss about love. Symposium, a work from the middle of platos writings, presumably implements socrates as a character to voice platos theories on love. Take a firm grasp of this point, then, said socrates.
See a complete list of the characters in the symposium. The question and answer section for symposium by plato is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel. Symposium by plato, part of the internet classics archive. It depicts a friendly contest of extemporaneous speeches given by a group of notable men attending a banquet. Spine creases, wear to binding and pages from reading. From a general summary to chapter summaries to explanations of famous quotes, the sparknotes the symposium study guide has everything you need to ace. Summary socrates reemphasizes the importance of the limits placed on poetry in the city in speech. Platos symposium is a series of speeches on love given at a party in ancient greece.
Commentary on plato symposium socrates and aristodemus will attend a banquet at agathon, with aristophanes, appolodore, pausanias and eryximachus. The specific way that plato makes use of the character of socrates varies somewhat during the different periods in which plato wrote. It is also the most lavishly literary of platos dialoguesa virtuoso prose performance in which the author, like a playful maestro, shows off an entire repertoire of characters, ideas, contrasting viewpoints, and. Sparknotes is here for you weve got everything you need to ace or teach. This free synopsis covers all the crucial plot points of the symposium. One of the most famous works of literature in the western world, plato s symposium is also one of the most entertaining.
At once a historical document, a philosophical drama that enacts abstract ideas in an often lighthearted way, and a literary masterpiece, it has exerted an influence that goes well beyond the confines of philosophy. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of symposium by plato. Symposium quite clearly, it means love of something. Jan 27, 2018 this is a brief overview of platos symposium. Translated with introduction and notes by alexander nehamas and paul woodruff. May contain limited notes, underlining or highlighting that does affect the text. The main characters of this philosophy, classics story are socrates. I really dont know if they resonate with how i think today. Dover the date of platos symposium, phronesis 1965 10. Mattingly the date of platos symposium, phronesis 1958 3. Continue your study of the symposium with these useful links. The men include the philosopher socrates, the general and political figure alcibiades, and the comic playwright aristophanes. Platos symposium lecture outline the good life at a great price.
This is a chapter from my book, socrates moral philosophy in everyday life symposium, part five agathons encomium and socrates comments to be in love is merely to be in a perpetual anesthesia to mistake an ordinary young man for a greek god or an ordinary young woman for a goddess. Artists products are only imitations of reality, twice. Symposium is central in platos philosophy, since it talks about love and ideas. Inside each philosophy guide youll find insightful overviews of great philosophical works of the western world.
Character list apollodorus narrator aristodemus told. In the spirit of freshness, i will focus on one very important section, where socrates relates the words of his. The symposium is a philosophical text by plato dated c. The grammatical notes are designed to help beginning readers read the text, and. When you read the dialogue you should note that when socrates turn to speak comes. Sparknotes philosophy guides are onestop guides to the great works of philosophymasterpieces that stand at the foundations of western thought. Apollodorus tells the story of a drinking party or symposium that occurs long ago. Republic book 1 i wrote these lectures in the mid1990s. Get all the key plot points of platos the symposium on one page. Free download or read online the symposium pdf epub book. Pelliccias revision of benjamin jowetts translation renders the piece into. This book introduces the literary and historical context of plato s work, surveys and explains the arguments, and considers why plato has cast this work in a highly unusual narrative form.
The republic is arguably the most popular and most widely taught of platos writings. Socrates replies that this view is the result of faults in society, not in philosophers. To upper crusties like plato, going down to the piraeus was slumming. Socrates the protagonist of the symposium, as with most of platos dialogues.
Republic, book 1 gorgias meno euthydemus hippias i and ii cratylas symposium phaedo republic, books 210 timaeus laws as has already been pointed out, plato uses socrates as the main interlocutor in his dialogues. Adeimantus interrupts to point out that most people think philosophers are vicious cranks, and the few good ones are useless to society. The symposium sparknotes philosophy guide making the reading experience fun. For more than seventy years, penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the englishspeaking world. Pdf the symposium book by plato free download 1 pages. Accessories such as cd, codes, toys, may not be included. Symposium, a work from the middle of platos writings, presumably implements socrates as a character to voice plato s theories on love. The symposium cannot therefore be regarded as a youthful work. The title of this book is plato symposium hackett classics and it was written by plato, alexander nehamas translator, paul woodruff translator.
The symposium is one of the foundational documents of western culture and arguably the most profound analysis and celebration of love in the history of philosophy. The guestsincluding the comic poet aristophanes and platos mentor socrateseach deliver a short speech in praise of love. The symposium by plato meet your next favorite book. In the symposium, eros is recognized both as erotic love and as a phenomenon capable of inspiring courage, valor. Socrates is one of the most important figures in the history of western philosophy, standing at the origin of the rational tradition initiated by himself, plato, and aristotle. Sharon, avi is the author of platos symposium, published 1997 under isbn 9780941051569 and isbn 0941051560. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. Quite a few comments have been posted about symposium. Socrates and aristodemus will attend a banquet at agathon, with aristophanes, appolodore, pausanias and eryximachus. All the speakers at the event represent prominent but diverse voices of the athenian society. 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. But what he probably meant was, that, harmony is composed of differing notes of higher or lower pitch which disagreed once, but are now reconciled by the art of music. The work itself is believed to have been composed sometime between 385 bc and 370 bc.
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