Plato’s Symposium is one of his most famous and widely studied dialogues, primarily because it explores deep philosophical questions about love (eros), beauty, and the nature of human existence through an engaging and intellectually stimulating conversation. In the dialogue, a group of intellectuals gathers at a symposium (a drinking party) hosted by the Athenian aristocrat Agathon. What begins as a light-hearted celebration of love transforms into a profound philosophical examination of the nature of love, its purpose, and its relationship to the divine and human realms. The dialogue is rich in themes, characters, and ideas that reflect Plato's broader philosophical concerns.
Themes in the Symposium:
The Nature of Love (Eros):
The central theme of the Symposium is eros, the god of love and desire. The dialogue begins with a conversation on the qualities of love, its role in the human experience, and its connection to beauty. What distinguishes Plato's view of love in the Symposium is his philosophical shift from mere physical attraction to a more spiritual, intellectual pursuit. Love is not simply about the physical or emotional bond between individuals but is a motivating force that moves the soul toward higher ideals, culminating in the love of the Good (or the divine).
The Ladder of Love:
One of the most important philosophical ideas in the Symposium is the "Ladder of Love" presented by Diotima, a priestess and wise teacher in the dialogue. Diotima teaches Socrates that love starts with a simple physical attraction to a particular individual’s beauty. From there, it can grow to appreciate the beauty of all bodies, and then the beauty of minds and souls. Eventually, the lover ascends to beauty in knowledge and virtue, finally arriving at an understanding of the "Form" of Beauty itself—an eternal and unchanging beauty that transcends the physical realm. This philosophical progression from physical to intellectual love mirrors Plato's theory of Forms, where the physical world is only a shadow of the higher, ideal forms of existence.
The Concept of the Philosopher’s Love:
In the Symposium, Plato suggests that the ultimate form of love is not the love of an individual person but rather the love of wisdom (philosophia). The philosopher's love is directed toward truth, knowledge, and the pursuit of the divine. The philosopher seeks beauty in a transcendent, non-physical form, which leads them to a deeper understanding of the cosmos and the Good. This elevates love from the mundane realm of human affairs to the divine realm of reason and wisdom.
Love and the Divine:
The dialogue also explores the relationship between love and the divine. The speaker Phaedrus presents love as a divine gift that inspires self-sacrifice and honor. The divine nature of love is affirmed by several characters, and love itself is portrayed as a means of connecting humanity to the gods and elevating the soul toward a higher state of being.
Immortality Through Procreation and Wisdom:
Another major theme in the dialogue is the idea of immortality, both biological and intellectual. Through love, humans seek immortality by procreating or by creating works of wisdom that live on after their physical death. Diotima explains that the purpose of love is to attain immortality, whether through physical offspring or through the creation of lasting ideas and knowledge. This connects to Plato’s broader belief in the enduring nature of the soul and its relationship to eternity.
Characters in the Symposium:
Phaedrus:
Phaedrus is one of the first speakers in the dialogue and begins the conversation by extolling the virtues of love as a powerful, divine force. For Phaedrus, love is a force that inspires people to act nobly, even to the point of sacrificing their lives for their lover. He gives examples from Greek mythology of lovers who displayed great bravery and honor, such as Achilles and Patroclus. Phaedrus’ emphasis on heroic love sets the stage for the philosophical discussions that follow, with a focus on the moral and social benefits of love.
Pausanias:
Pausanias offers a more sophisticated take on love, distinguishing between two kinds of love: Common love (physical attraction or lust) and Heavenly love (the love of the soul and intellect). Pausanias suggests that Heavenly love is the superior form, because it is motivated by the pursuit of virtue and wisdom, not just by physical pleasure. This distinction between earthly and divine love forms an important part of the dialogue’s discussion on the nature of love and its ethical implications.
Eryximachus:
Eryximachus is a physician and offers a scientific perspective on love, explaining it as a universal force that exists not only in humans but throughout the cosmos. He draws parallels between love and the concept of harmony in the body, suggesting that balance and health are the result of the right alignment of love in the physical and spiritual realms. Eryximachus’ view represents a more rational and naturalistic approach to the discussion of love, suggesting that love governs the natural world and is responsible for order and balance in the universe.
Aristophanes:
Aristophanes, the comic playwright, offers a mythical and humorous account of the origin of love. According to Aristophanes, humans were originally round beings, with four arms, four legs, and two heads. But the gods, fearing their power, split them in half. Since that moment, each person has been seeking their "other half", their soulmate, to make them feel whole again. This comedic story gives a poetic and humanistic view of love as a quest for completeness and unity. Aristophanes’ myth highlights the longing for connection that defines the human experience and makes love a central force in human life.
Agathon:
Agathon is a beautiful and youthful playwright who hosts the symposium. He speaks eloquently about love as the youngest and most divine of the gods, praising love as the source of beauty and goodness. For Agathon, love inspires virtue and is the driving force behind creativity and goodness in both the arts and life. His speech focuses on idealizing love as the force that makes people noble and good, but it lacks the depth and philosophical rigor of the other speeches.
Socrates:
Socrates’ role in the Symposium is pivotal, as he questions and challenges the earlier speeches. He introduces the teachings of Diotima, a wise priestess who educates Socrates on the philosophical nature of love. Socrates does not present his own views but instead guides the discussion toward a more abstract and philosophical understanding of love. He explains love as the desire for the good and argues that the highest form of love is the love of knowledge and the Form of Beauty, which is eternal and unchanging. Through Socrates’ dialogue with Diotima, Plato presents the idea that love’s true aim is not the pursuit of physical beauty or individual relationships, but the pursuit of philosophical understanding and spiritual enlightenment.
Diotima:
Diotima is a central character in the dialogue, though she only appears indirectly through Socrates’ account of their conversation. She is a wise priestess who teaches Socrates about the true nature of love. Diotima is the one who introduces the Ladder of Love, explaining that the lover’s journey begins with physical attraction and ascends to an appreciation of the beauty of souls, then to the beauty of minds, and finally to the Form of Beauty, which transcends all physical forms. Diotima’s teachings emphasize that love is not merely a personal or physical experience but a philosophical one, aimed at spiritual growth and the pursuit of truth.
Conclusion:
In The Symposium, Plato intricately weaves a dialogue that moves from the human experience of love to the transcendent, philosophical pursuit of the divine and eternal beauty. The dialogue’s characters each offer distinct views of love, ranging from physical attraction and heroic self-sacrifice to a more intellectual, spiritual conception of love
