PLATO'S SYMPOSIUM

What does the Greek word "symposium" mean?

"drinking party or banquet"

According to Socrates, what is love is always aimed at? (the object of love)

love always love of something love is always love of beauty or goodness

What is the story Socrates tells (from his love teacher, the priestess Diotima) that purports to explain why love (eros) is "Divine Madness?"

the story of Plenty and Poverty

Pausanias says that there are 2 kinds of love, depending on how love is practiced. What are these two kinds of love?

1. Bad love (earthly; entirely physical and sexual Aphrodite) and Good love (divine love, heavenly Aphrodite)

What is the progression of love (the ladder of love)? Describe.

Diotima says there is a natural progression involving love, and you will progress unless there is a construction. If there is no construction, then you will continue to develop in this manner. The first step is the sexual arousal from a beautiful body.

What "in-between" connects the human and divine?

Love (Eros) True belief is in between knowledge and ignorance; Eros is not a God nor human, it is a spirit, it is in- between.

The priestess Diotima tells the young Socrates that we all die, but we humans have a substitute for death. What is this substitute?

The creation of beauty and goodness.

Describe the original race of human beings, according to the comedy writer Aristophanes.

The original people had 4 arms, 4 legs, 2 faces, and two sets of genitals.

What is at the top of the ladder of love?

This is Absolute Beauty, Beauty itself, Beauty which is never more nor less, never here or there.

If you have a beloved, then how can love be a lack? Explain.

You long to have your beloved tomorrow, and the next day... and the next day.