Symposium

Who was Phaedrus?

-young beautifyl man

-Eromenos of Eryximachus

-Admirer of Socrates

-Suggests the topic as she believes Eros doesnt get enough praise

-idealistic and naive

Phaedrus views on love

-source of all good

-encourages people to be better as they want to make their lover/boyfriend proud and not shame them

-the best army would be one where everyone is in love with eachother as they would be less cowardly and want more honour

-love makes you brave ie. lovers willing to die for eachother, like Alcestis, Achilles (orpheus not a good example as he wasnt willing to die)

Who was Pausanius?

-legal expert

-Erastes of Agathon- in a long term relationship

-strongly argues point of view but biased towards male-male relationships

What were Pausanius’ views on love?

There were two types of love: common love (attraction to bodies, towards women, the inferior type) and Heavenly love (attraction to the mind, of equals)

-no children because you cant be sure if theyre intelligent yet. also no women

-should leave a fully shared life, better to love openly and not secretly

-loving the body is bad becauce the body will fade but the mind wont

-should test how earily they give in to see if they are worthy

-sex is okay if the younger one is seeking intelligence and the older is educating

Who is Eryximachus?

Doctor, speaks instead of Aristophanes as he gets hiccupts, pluto wants these three speeches grouped

Pompous and obsessed with his own expertise

What are Eryximachus’ views on love?

Broadens definition of love to include all humans and natural processes.

-basically everything is love, love is the balance, love is a force of good and a source of happiness

best kind when self control

Who was Aristophanes?

comediant, could be in for comic releif or as Plato’s critique of dramaticss

mythological

unsure if meant to be taken seriously

what was Aristopahnes opinion on love

-the other half story, people are drawn to find their other half and they might be reunited if they show reverence to the gods

-zeus turned genitals to the from for sexual intercouse as a compromise

-when someone sees their other half they are overwhelmed with affection, concern and love so it isnt just sexual interest.

-love is the name for desire and the pursuit of wholeness- strive to be fused as that is the natural state

-homoerotic relationships as better becasue they are braver and manliner

-could get chopped in half again if they arent well ordered to the gods

Who was Agathon?

tragedian celebrating his first win at a festival

-famously beautiful

-Eromenos of Pausanius

-Self-conciously poetical and rhetoric- sophistic

What were Agathon’s opinions on love?

-Love is the most beautiful and youngest of the gods. Only appears in soft people

-love is senstive, beautiful and gentle. He spends time among flowers.

-Doesnt use force since everyone consents

-love is moderate- masters pleasures and desires, cant love ugly things

-love drains us of estrangement and fills us with familiarity

-cared and treasured