Plato

The Dialogues of Plato - The Symposium

The Nature of Agreement and Eros

  • Key Concept:

    • Agreement cannot stem from things that are inherently in disagreement.

    • Metaphor to musical rhythm:

    • Rhythm emerges from the integration of varying speeds, similar to how agreement arises from variance.

  • Role of Music and Medicine in Love:

    • Music elicits knowledge of love through attunement and rhythm.

    • Difficulties arise in applying these concepts to human relationships, termed as education and culture.

  • Eros:

    • Classified into two categories:

    • Beautiful, heavenly Eros linked to harmonious creation.

    • Vulgar Eros (associated with disarray) must be handled with care to avoid intemperance, analogized to cooking where desires must be properly managed to yield enjoyment without harm.

  • Seasonal and Cosmic Eros:

    • Seasonal change involves balancing hot and cold, wet and dry, leading to prosperity when in harmony.

    • Disruption in this balance results in destructive phenomena (plagues, diseases).

Eros in Human and Divine Contexts

The Importance of Eros

  • All forms of Eros hold significant power, predominantly the Eros reflected in good, just acts that foster friendship between humans and deities.

  • Eros is positioned as a healer and a connection between humans and gods, emphasizing the need for reverence and order in relationships to avoid divine displeasure.

  • Reiteration of ethical and philosophical implications regarding how Eros must be cultivated to maintain balance within society and between humanity and the divine.

Aristophanes’ Contribution to the Dialogue (from Pages 3-5)

Themes of Human Nature and Eros

  • Presentation of a New Perspective on Eros:

    • Aristophanes argues that Eros is underappreciated and requires worship reflective of its true power.

  • Historical Context of Human Nature:

    • Reference to ancient humans possessing a tri-fold nature (male, female, and androgynous).

    • Physical description of ancient humans: Round, with two faces, four arms, etc., representing the unity of diverse qualities.

  • Conflict with the Gods:

    • Ancient humans attempted to storm heavens (mythical reference to Ephialtes and Otus).

    • Zeus's reaction:

    • He decides to divide humans to diminish their strength and impudence, symbolizing a divine solution to human hubris.

  • Transformation Post-Division:

    • Post-division, humans seek their other half, indicating an innate desire for unity and wholeness, representing Eros as a quest for reconnection.

    • Eros characterized as a guiding force to restore ancient wholeness.

Continued Exploration of Eros

  • Explanation of relationship dynamics post-division, emphasizing the significance of seeking one's "matching token" and the types of lovers that emerge from the division (man-lovers, woman-lovers).

  • Overview of different sexual orientations (lesbian relationships, man-boy relationships) as reflections of ancient divides.

  • Climactic Desire for Unity:

    • Lovers wish to merge and become one entity, symbolizing the completion of their fragmented selves, highlighting how Eros not only drives desire but also the quest for identity and fulfillment.