The Symposium: Timeless Philosophy on the Nature of Love
By Plato
()
About this ebook
Set in ancient Athens, Symposium follows a group of philosophers attending a banquet and indulging in banter, squaring off in a friendly battle of speeches. Plato included Socrates as one of the characters, which is thought to be a criticism of Socrates and his philosophy as against the previous belief that it is a fitting tribute to his teacher. However, multiple traditional views of this book suggest the latter to be true.
Considered one of Plato’s most impactful works, Symposium was showered with heavy praise for the style of writing and philosophy. The men in this philosophical text are required to sing praises to Eros, the god of love, desire, and valour. While the book was written in dialogue form – a literary technique that Plato used in many of his works – he seems to have been lenient with its usage, especially since Socrates had a different approach to the topic at hand in this storyline.
Symposium is viewed as a work of great importance in the philosophical tradition. It laid the foundation of the idea of ‘Platonic Love’ – one that transcends desire and sexual gratification. This particular edition of the book has been translated by Benjamin Jowett, who was a famed administrator, tutor, theologian, and reformer of his own times, and went on to translate many of Plato’s dialogues from ancient Greek into English.
Plato
Plato (aprox. 424-327 BC), a student of Socrates and the teacher of Aristotle, is commonly regarded as the centermost figure of Western philosophy. During the Classical period of Ancient Greece he was based in Athens where he founded his Academy and created the Platonist school of thought. His works are among the most influential in Western history, commanding interest and challenging readers of every era and background since they were composed.
Read more from Plato
33 Masterpieces of Philosophy and Science to Read Before You Die (Illustrated): Utopia, The Meditations, The Art of War, The Kama Sutra, Candide Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Yale Required Reading - Collected Works (Vol. 1) Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Five Dialogues Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Laws Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Last Days of Socrates (Euthyphro, The Apology, Crito, Phaedo) Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Last Days of Socrates Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsEssential Dialogues of Plato Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Timaeus and Critias Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Complete Dialogues of Plato Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFive Dialogues (Translated by Benjamin Jowett) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Essential Plato: Apology, Symposium, and The Republic Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDialogues of Plato Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/530+ Classic Philosophy Book Collection: The Art of War, Poetics, The Republic, The Meditations, The Prince and others Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHarvard Classics: All 71 Volumes Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Trial and Death of Socrates: Euthyphro, Apology, Crito and Phaedo Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsYale Classics (Vol. 1) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsProtagoras and Meno Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Republic: New Revised Edition Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPlato: Complete Works (With Included Audiobooks & Aristotle's Organon) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Related to The Symposium
Related ebooks
The Symposium: Timeless Philosophy on the Nature of Love Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Republic: - Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPoetics: The Foundation of Literary Theory Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Politics: A Treatise on Government Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Trial: - Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde: - Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Odyssey: - Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin: The Story of Founding Father of USA Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Tale of Two Cities: A Story of The French Revolution Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe War of the Worlds: - Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRelativity: The Special and the General Theory: The Special and General Theory Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Richest Man In Babylon: Clayson's Bestselling Book on Increasing Personal Wealth Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Iliad Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Interpretation of Dreams: Understanding the Human Mind Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Story of My Life: - Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsNationalism: Tagore's Seminal Text on the Idea of Nationalism Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAlexander The Great: World's Greatest Conqueror and Commander Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHard Times Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsJane Eyre Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Time Machine: A Grotesque Romance Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMeditations: A Timeless Text on Stoic Philosophy Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe prince and the Pauper: A Tale for Young People of All Ages Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPride and Prejudice Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA journey to the centre of the Earth Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTwelve Years A Slave: Narrative of Solomaon Northup Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Art of War: The Military Classic of the Far East Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Invisible Man Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Art of Public Speaking Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThink and Grow Rich: - Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Communist Manifesto: The Political Text that Changed the World Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Philosophy For You
Bhagavad Gita (in English): The Authentic English Translation for Accurate and Unbiased Understanding Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Egyptian Book of the Dead: The Complete Papyrus of Ani Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Little Book of Stoicism: Timeless Wisdom to Gain Resilience, Confidence, and Calmness Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Daily Stoic: A Daily Journal On Meditation, Stoicism, Wisdom and Philosophy to Improve Your Life Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Be Here Now Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Lessons of History Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Course in Miracles: Text, Workbook for Students, Manual for Teachers Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Experiencing God (2021 Edition): Knowing and Doing the Will of God Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Inward Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Art of Loving Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Tao Te Ching: A New English Version Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Buddha's Guide to Gratitude: The Life-changing Power of Everyday Mindfulness Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Sun Tzu's The Art of War: Bilingual Edition Complete Chinese and English Text Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Art of Living: Peace and Freedom in the Here and Now Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Four Loves Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Bhagavad Gita Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Lying Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Courage to Be Happy: Discover the Power of Positive Psychology and Choose Happiness Every Day Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Art of War Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Mindfulness in Plain English: 20th Anniversary Edition Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Republic by Plato Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Beyond Good and Evil Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5How to Be Perfect: The Correct Answer to Every Moral Question Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Denial of Death Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Plato and a Platypus Walk Into a Bar...: Understanding Philosophy Through Jokes Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Reviews for The Symposium
0 ratings0 reviews