#TODO Plato is a foundational genius of Western philosophy, whose work is the starting point for subsequent philosophical development. However, his emphasis on the limited importance of the physical world led to the stagnation of classical science, with easily disprovable beliefs persisting due to a lack of empirical investigation. Despite inventions like a computer, steam engine, and "weird mirror-powered weapons," the Greeks did not develop them further because engaging with the real world was considered "ungentlemanly behaviour. ## The Republic ## The Symposium The Symposium presents a gathering of prominent men (including artists, philosophers, and statesmen) who compete in giving speeches praising [[The Nature of Love & Relation|Eros]]. The narrative is presented as a third-hand account told by Apollodorus, who heard it from Aristodemus. *Note: Modern minds tend to dismiss abstract concepts like love as "chemical reactions" or purely biological phenomena. This reductive materialism stands in contrast to the ancient Greek approach, which had greater epistemic humility, and a greater openness to mystery.* The Symposium is a progression where each speech builds upon and refines the previous ones in a dialectical manner: - Phaedrus establishes the topic - Pausanias distinguishes higher and lower forms of love - Eryximachus expands love to universal terms - Aristophanes defines love as the law of attraction - Agathon identifies love as the love of the beautiful - Socrates finishes the synthesis by defining love as the philosophical pursuit of immortality through wisdom Most importantly, Alcibiades' speech is crucial to the dialogue's structure, it demonstrates in action what Socrates described in theory: - Socrates presents the theoretical side of love - Alcibiades presents the practical side - Together they show the double nature of Eros In Alcibiades' attraction to Socrates, we see the philosopher embodying the beautiful itself, while Alcibiades represents the lover seeking the beautiful. - This idea of Eros as a force acting on all life that is sublimated in various ways parallels Nietzsche's concept of Will to Power. - The notion that to love life is to seek its eternity relates to Nietzsche's amor fati and eternal return - Diotima's description of a mediating force driving all life toward self-overcoming and eternity resembles Nietzsche's ideas about Will to Power transforming becoming into being ![[François-André_Vincent-Alcibades_being_taught_by_Socrates-1746–1816.jpg]] ### The Speeches and Their Progression #### 1. Phaedrus Phaedrus begins by declaring Eros one of the oldest and most important deities, citing Hesiod's account that Eros came into being after Chaos and Earth. He argues that love inspires virtue by compelling people to act honourably in the eyes of those they love, even to the point of sacrificing their lives. #### 2. Pausanias Pausanias distinguishes between two types of Eros: - Common Eros (Pandemia): Physical, lustful love that is fleeting - Heavenly Eros (Urania): Spiritual love focused on a person's character, which endures He argues that the true lover pursues the heavenly form of love, which leads to virtue. #### 3. Eryximachus Eryximachus, a physician, expands the concept of Eros to include all of nature. He describes Eros as a force that creates harmony and balance throughout the cosmos: - In medicine, it's the balance of bodily humours - In music, it's the harmony of notes - In the seasons, it's the equilibrium of hot and cold, dry and moist #### 4. Aristophanes Aristophanes provides a mythological explanation for love through his famous story of original humans who had two faces, four arms, and four legs. Zeus split these beings in half, and now humans constantly seek their "other half" to restore their original wholeness. While seemingly absurd, this myth actually continues the progression by illustrating how love seeks to restore harmony and unity. #### 5. Agathon Agathon focuses on the character of Eros himself rather than his effects. He describes Eros as young, beautiful, and dwelling in soft and beautiful things. Agathon defines Eros as "love of the beautiful" that brings forth everything good in nature and art. #### 6. Socrates [[Socrates - Σωκράτης - The Wisest of Man|Socrates]] first challenges Agathon through questioning, establishing that: - Love desires what it lacks - If love desires beauty and goodness, it cannot itself possess these qualities - Therefore, Eros cannot be a god (as gods must be perfect) Socrates then relates a conversation with Diotima of Mantinea, who taught him that: - Eros is a "spirit" (daimon) between mortality and immortality - Eros acts as an intermediary between gods and humans - Eros is the child of Resource and Poverty, constantly seeking what it lacks - Love is ultimately the desire for immortality Diotima describes a "ladder of love" where one progresses from: 1. Love of beautiful bodies 2. Love of beautiful souls and practices 3. Love of beautiful forms of learning 4. Love of Beauty itself The highest form of love allows one to give birth to "true virtue" rather than mere images of virtue. #### 7. Alcibiades Alcibiades arrives drunk and gives a speech praising not Eros but Socrates himself. He describes his failed attempts to seduce Socrates and his admiration for Socrates' wisdom, virtue, and self-control. #### Conclusion The Symposium ends with most participants falling asleep while Socrates continues to argue with Aristophanes and Agathon that the genius of comedy is the same as that of tragedy. Ultimately, the Symposium reveals that the beauty of love lies in its ability to drive us toward immortality—not through physical reproduction alone, but through the creation of wisdom and virtue that outlast individual human lives.