The Symposium

By Xenophon

Book Overview

The Symposium is a philosophical dialogue written by the ancient Greek writer Xenophon. It is a discussion between a group of men who have gathered to celebrate the victory of one of their friends in a horse race. The conversation turns to the topic of love, and each man takes turns giving their opinion on the nature of love and its role in human life.The first speaker, Phaedrus, argues that love is the greatest motivation for human action and that it inspires courage and virtue. Pausanias follows with a more nuanced view, arguing that there are both good and bad forms of love, and that the good form is based on mutual respect and admiration.Eryximachus, a physician, takes a scientific approach, arguing that love is a force that governs the natural world and that it can be both beneficial and harmful depending on how it is used. Aristophanes offers a humorous and imaginative explanation of love, suggesting that it is the result of humans being split in half by the gods and seeking to reunite with their other half.Agathon, a tragedian, gives a poetic and idealistic view of love, arguing that it is the source of all beauty and goodness in the world. Finally, Socrates, the most famous of the speakers, challenges the others to think more deeply about the nature of love, arguing that it is not simply a feeling or an emotion, but a philosophical concept that can reveal deeper truths about human nature.Overall, The Symposium is a fascinating and thought-provoking exploration of the nature of love and its role in human life, written by one of the greatest philosophers of ancient Greece.Bless me, that isn't all (continued Socrates); if we do not take care, we shall win ourselves a comic reputation. 15] A relish must it be, in very truth, that can sweeten cup as well as platter, this same onion; and if we are to take to munching onions for desert, see if somebody does not say of us, ""They went to dine with Callias, and got more than their deserts, the epicures.""This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1419184725
• ISBN13: 9781419184727
• Release Date: June 2004
• Publisher: Kessinger Publishing
• Length: 76 Pages
• Weight: 0.22 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.1" x 7.5" x 9.2"