The Symposium: Praise of Love and Its Power

Love is the oldest and mightiest of gods, uniting good, inspiring virtue, and fostering harmony in all things.

### Praise of Love in Plato's Symposium
* 👂 Apollodorus recounts the dialogue on love he heard from Aristodemus to a friend who was seeking information about **Socrates, Alcibiades, and others' speeches** at Agathon's banquet.
* 🎭 The dialogue features the following characters: **Apollodorus, Phaedrus, Possegnius, Eryximachus, Aristophanes, Agathon, Socrates, Alcibiades, and a troupe of revelers**.
* 💬 The participants engage in speeches praising the nature of love, with Phaedrus emphasizing **love as a mighty god and the source of virtue and happiness**.
* Eryximachus, a physician, views love as a **universal principle** that governs the **harmony and balance** of the body and all other aspects of life.
* 🎶 Aristophanes suggests that mankind has not fully understood the power of love, as evidenced by their failure to **honor him with temples and sacrifices**.
* 🎭 The dialogue explores different facets of love, such as the distinction between **heavenly and common love**, the role of love in **education and virtue**, and the importance of **honoring the right kinds of love**.
* 🌟 Throughout the speeches, love is portrayed as a **divine force** that unites gods and men, inspires **noble actions**, and promotes **harmony and well-being** in the world.

### The Origin and Nature of Love According to Diotima in Plato's "Symposium"
* 🌟 According to Diotima, love is a **great spirit or demon** that serves as an intermediary between gods and humans, conveying prayers and sacrifices to the gods and their responses to humans.
* 💔 Love is in a constant state of **desire, seeking that which it lacks**. It is neither mortal nor immortal, but **alive and flourishing at one moment and dead at another**.
* 🧠 Love is a philosopher or seeker of wisdom, existing in a **mean between the wise and the ignorant**.
* 💖 Love is of the **beautiful and the good**. When a person loves the beautiful, they desire to possess the **good**. Ultimately, all people desire their own **good and happiness**.
* 👫 Diotima explains that the pursuit of love is the **everlasting possession of the good**. Men are eager and passionate in their pursuit of love because they seek to **bring forth beauty in body and soul through procreation**.
* 👶 In Diotima's view, the procreation of beauty through the union of man and woman is a **divine and immortal principle**.
* 🎭 The name of love is given to those whose affection takes **one form only**, even though all desire of good and happiness is essentially the **power of love**.
* 🏛 "The truth of the matter is this: No God is a philosopher or seeker after wisdom, for he is **wise already**. Nor does any man who is wise seek after wisdom. Neither do the ignorant seek after wisdom, for here is the evil of ignorance, that he who is neither good nor wise is nevertheless **satisfied with himself**."

### Alcibiades' Praise of Socrates at the Symposium
* 🍷 Alcibiades praises Socrates' wisdom, endurance, and self-restraint, comparing him to the **bust of Silenus** and the **satyr Marsyas**.
* 💬 Socrates' words are like the images of Silenus - **seemingly ridiculous but containing divine and virtuous meanings**.
* 🏆 Socrates saved Alcibiades' life in battle, displayed **remarkable endurance**, and showed **presence of mind in dangerous situations**.
* 💔 Alcibiades confesses that he is **hopelessly enslaved by Socrates**, but Socrates rejects his advances and **maintains his virtue**.
* 💬 "When he and I were alone together, I thought that I might hear him speak the language which lovers use with their loves when they are by themselves. But **nothing of the sort**."
* 🎭 Alcibiades is both **enamored and frustrated** by Socrates' behavior, as he tries to get closer to him but Socrates remains **indifferent**.
* 👥 Alcibiades' attempt to create a quarrel between Socrates and Agathon by praising them both is foiled by **Socrates' clever response**.
* 📜 Socrates' discourse on the unity of the genius of comedy and tragedy is heard by a drowsy Aristodemus, who recalls the **main point of the argument**.

THE SYMPOSIUM by Plato - FULL Audio Book - Ancient Greek Philosophy

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The Symposium by Plato: A Rehearsal of the Dialogue

Apollodorus recounts a conversation about the speeches in praise of love delivered by Socrates, Alcibiades, and others at Agathon's supper.

He describes Socrates' unusual appearance and the banter between him and Aristodemus on their way to the banquet.

As they arrive at Agathon's house, they are warmly welcomed to join the banquet, setting the stage for the discussions on love.

The Mysterious Disappearance of Socrates at a Supper Party

Socrates vanishes from a supper party, causing confusion and concern among the guests.

Despite the initial absence, Socrates eventually joins the party and engages in a discussion about love and its praise.

The guests, including Socrates, decide to take turns making speeches in honor of love, following a proposal by Eryximachus.

The Power and Virtue of Love in Greek Mythology

Love is praised as the eldest and most beneficial of the gods, inspiring courage, honor, and virtue in both lovers and their beloved.

The speech emphasizes the divine nature of love and its ability to bring about happiness and virtue in life and even after death.

Another speaker suggests that there are two loves, associated with the heavenly Aphrodite and the common Aphrodite, and emphasizes the need to distinguish between the two in praising love.

The Nature of Love and Its Manifestations

Love's morality depends on how it is expressed, with noble love being praiseworthy and common love being indiscriminate.

The type of love associated with the heavenly Aphrodite is focused on the soul and is more mature, while the common Aphrodite's love is physical and transient.

The lawfulness and reputation of love varies across different regions and is influenced by cultural and philosophical factors.

The Nature of Love and Virtue in Plato's Symposium

Love is distinguished into two kinds: one focused on physical attraction, and the other on the pursuit of virtue and improvement.

The speaker emphasizes the honor in being deceived for the sake of virtue, rather than for material gain.

The discussion delves into the universal presence of love in all living beings and the role of a physician in understanding and satisfying different desires in the body.

Friendship and harmony are the foundation of art, medicine, and music, reconciling opposites and implanting love and unity.

The role of love in music, education, and the regulation of desires is emphasized, highlighting its importance in human life.

Love is seen as a peacemaker, with a great power to heal and preserve harmony, both among gods and men, as well as in the nature of man.

Zeus's solution to humble the strength of humans was to split them in two, leading to their eternal search for their other half.

This ancient desire for reunion is the root of love, according to the myth.

The story explains the origin of love and the longing for unity, depicting how humans were once whole and now seek to become one again.

Love is praised as the youngest and most blessed of the gods, bringing peace and sweetness to the world.

The speaker disagrees with the idea that Love is old, instead emphasizing Love's tenderness and youthfulness.

Love is described as walking in the hearts and souls of gods and men, seeking out the softest places to dwell, bringing his gentle nature to the world.

Love is described as flexible, graceful, and just, reigning over courage and temperance.

It is credited with inspiring poetry, arts, and the creation of animals, as well as being the source of beauty and goodness in the world.

Love is also portrayed as a bringer of peace, kindness, and affection, desired by all and precious to those who have it.

The speech praising love is admired by the listeners, while Socrates feels inadequate to speak on the same topic, realizing his own inferiority in praising love compared to the previous speaker.

Socrates questions Agathon about the nature of love, establishing that love desires what it does not have.

He argues that love is a pursuit of beauty and goodness, based on Agathon's admissions.

Socrates then introduces a tale of love, learned from a wise woman, Daitima, linking it to the previous discussion.

The Nature of Love and Its Role in Human Life

Love is described as a mighty God, neither fair nor good, but in a mean between them, serving as a mediator between gods and men.

According to Diotima, love is a great spirit, intermediate between the divine and mortal, with the power to interpret and convey messages between gods and humans.

The nature of the spirit of love is explained through its birth, being the child of plenty and poverty, always in a state of flux between abundance and want, and in a mean between ignorance and knowledge.

Love is the pursuit of everlasting possession of the good, whether it's the good itself or the possession of it.

The object of this love is the birth in beauty, whether in body or soul, as it is seen as a divine and immortal principle.

Love is also driven by the desire for immortality, which is sought through generation and the continuation of life.

The Ever-Changing Nature of Body, Soul, and Knowledge

The passage discusses the constant flux and change in the body, soul, and knowledge.

It emphasizes the human desire for immortality and the pursuit of eternal fame through offspring and virtuous creations.

It also delves into the progression of love and the pursuit of beauty, ultimately leading to the contemplation of universal beauty and wisdom.

The Nature of Beauty and the Arrival of Alcibiades

The text discusses the nature of everlasting and unchanging beauty, as well as the power of love in the contemplation of absolute beauty.

Alcibiades arrives at the gathering in a drunken state, expressing his admiration for Agathon and Socrates, and seeking to crown them.

Alcibiades' passionate and jealous behavior towards Socrates is revealed, creating a tense atmosphere at the gathering.

Alcibiades' Praise of Socrates at the Symposium

Alcibiades praises Socrates for his unique ability to captivate and influence others with his words, comparing him to the mythical figure Marsyas.

He admires Socrates' power of speech, which deeply affects everyone who hears it, unlike any other orator.

Alcibiades confesses that Socrates' influence makes him question his own way of life and priorities.

Confessions to Socrates: A Struggle with Shame and Desire

A person confesses to being unable to resist Socrates' influence, feeling both ashamed and drawn to him.

Despite trying various approaches to win Socrates' favor, they are ultimately driven to seek his help in the pursuit of virtue.

The person feels a deep internal struggle, wishing for Socrates' approval while also experiencing shame and embarrassment in his presence.

They make various attempts to seduce and attract Socrates, but ultimately realize that they need his guidance in achieving virtue, believing that he can help them in ways that others cannot.

Alcibiades admires Socrates for his wisdom and endurance, considering him superior in beauty and virtue.

Socrates' remarkable self-restraint and behavior in battle deeply impress Alcibiades.

Despite being rejected by Socrates, Alcibiades remains in awe of his mentor's courage and composure in the face of danger.

Socrates' unique character and behavior set him apart from all other men.

Alcibiades admires and warns against Socrates' unusual ways, expressing both praise and criticism.

The Symposium ends with Socrates engaging in philosophical discourse with Aristophanes and Agathon until dawn.