Symposium (Plato) - Revision history

Dandelion: Added the article to the "Philosophical literature" category

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	[[Category:Reference material on ancient Greece]]		[[Category:Reference material on ancient Greece]]
			[[Category:Philosophical literature]]

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	* {{cite web \|url=http://www.glbtq.com/literature/plato,2.html \|title=Plato (427-327 B.C.E.): The ''Symposium'' \|page=2 \|publisher=[[glbtq.com]]\|accessdate=February 5, 2015 \|last=Crompton\|first=Louis}}		* {{cite web \|url=http://www.glbtq.com/literature/plato,2.html \|title=Plato (427-327 B.C.E.): The ''Symposium'' \|page=2 \|publisher=[[glbtq.com]]\|accessdate=February 5, 2015 \|last=Crompton\|first=Louis}}

	[[Category:Reference material ancient Greece]]		[[Category:Reference material on ancient Greece]]

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External links

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	[[Category:Reference material ancient Greece]]		[[Category:Reference material ancient Greece]]
	~~[[Category:Historians]]~~

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External links

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	[[Category:Reference material ancient Greece]]		[[Category:Reference material ancient Greece]]
			[[Category:Historians]]

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External links

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	* English translation of Plato's ''Symposium'' by [[Benjamin Jowett]]: copy at [http://classics.mit.edu/Plato/symposium.html Internet Classics Archive] and another at [http://etext.library.adelaide.edu.au/p/plato/p71sy/ University of Adelaide] with Jowett's introduction		* English translation of Plato's ''Symposium'' by [[Benjamin Jowett]]: copy at [http://classics.mit.edu/Plato/symposium.html Internet Classics Archive] and another at [http://etext.library.adelaide.edu.au/p/plato/p71sy/ University of Adelaide] with Jowett's introduction
	* [http://www.sqapo.com/platosymposium.htm Longer summary] of the ''Symposium'' by Glyn Hughes		* [http://www.sqapo.com/platosymposium.htm Longer summary] of the ''Symposium'' by Glyn Hughes
	* ~~{{perseus\|Plat.\|Sym.\|172a}}~~ English translation by Harold N. Fowler linked to commentary by R. G. Bury and others		* English translation by Harold N. Fowler linked to commentary by R. G. Bury and others
	*Angela Hobbs' podcast interview on Erotic Love in the ''Symposium'' [http://nigelwarburton.typepad.com/philosophy_bites/2007/11/angie-hobbs-on-.html]		*Angela Hobbs' podcast interview on Erotic Love in the ''Symposium'' [http://nigelwarburton.typepad.com/philosophy_bites/2007/11/angie-hobbs-on-.html]
	* [http://campus.belmont.edu/philosophy/Book.pdf Approaching Plato: A Guide to the Early and Middle Dialogues]		* [http://campus.belmont.edu/philosophy/Book.pdf Approaching Plato: A Guide to the Early and Middle Dialogues]

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Literary form

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	The Symposium was written as a dramatic dialogue - a form used by Plato in more than thirty works - and, according to Walter Hamilton, it is his most perfect one. Set in Athenian social life, it develops the themes of love and also of Socrates' character. There is little doubt that the content of the dialogue is fictitious, although Plato has built a very realistic atmosphere.<ref name="Penguin">Plato, The Symposium. Translation and introduction by Walter Hamilton. Penguin Classics. 1951. ISBN 9780140440249</ref>		The Symposium was written as a dramatic dialogue - a form used by Plato in more than thirty works - and, according to Walter Hamilton, it is his most perfect one. Set in Athenian social life, it develops the themes of love and also of Socrates' character. There is little doubt that the content of the dialogue is fictitious, although Plato has built a very realistic atmosphere.<ref name="Penguin">Plato, The Symposium. Translation and introduction by Walter Hamilton. Penguin Classics. 1951. ISBN 9780140440249</ref>

	Andrew Dalby considers the opening pages of the ''Symposium'' the best description in any ancient Greek source of the ramifications of an oral tradition.<ref>{{Harv\|Dalby\|2006\|page=19–24}}.</ref> Plato has set up a multitude of layers between the original symposium and his written narrative: he heard it fourth-hand (if we are to identify him with Apollodorus's friend), so it comes to the written text fifth-hand. In addition, the story Socrates narrates was told to Socrates by Diotima, creating one more layer between the reader and the philosophic path that Socrates traces. Nevertheless, Dalby is eager to add that he does not think the rendering of the discussion by Plato is historically accurate, and considers that the content is in great part his invention. Other scholars, like Walter Hamilton, agree with this view.<ref name=Penguin />		Andrew Dalby considers the opening pages of the ''Symposium'' the best description in any ancient Greek source of the ramifications of an oral tradition.<ref>Harv\|Dalby\|2006\|page=19–24.</ref> Plato has set up a multitude of layers between the original symposium and his written narrative: he heard it fourth-hand (if we are to identify him with Apollodorus's friend), so it comes to the written text fifth-hand. In addition, the story Socrates narrates was told to Socrates by Diotima, creating one more layer between the reader and the philosophic path that Socrates traces. Nevertheless, Dalby is eager to add that he does not think the rendering of the discussion by Plato is historically accurate, and considers that the content is in great part his invention. Other scholars, like Walter Hamilton, agree with this view.<ref name=Penguin />

	==Historical context==		==Historical context==

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The conclusion

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	===The conclusion===		===The conclusion===
	Despite this speech, Agathon then lies down next to Socrates, much to the chagrin of Alcibiades. The symposium comes to an end when a large drunken group shows up. Many of the main characters take the opportunity to depart and return home; Socrates, however, stays awake until dawn. As Aristodemus wakes up and leaves the house, Socrates is proclaiming to Agathon and Aristophanes that a skilful playwright should be able to write comedy as well as tragedy (223d). When Agathon and Aristophanes at last fall asleep, Socrates leaves, walks to the [[Lyceum ~~(Classical)\|Lyceum]]~~ to wash, and spends the rest of the day as he usually did, not going home to sleep until that evening (223d).		Despite this speech, Agathon then lies down next to Socrates, much to the chagrin of Alcibiades. The symposium comes to an end when a large drunken group shows up. Many of the main characters take the opportunity to depart and return home; Socrates, however, stays awake until dawn. As Aristodemus wakes up and leaves the house, Socrates is proclaiming to Agathon and Aristophanes that a skilful playwright should be able to write comedy as well as tragedy (223d). When Agathon and Aristophanes at last fall asleep, Socrates leaves, walks to the Lyceum to wash, and spends the rest of the day as he usually did, not going home to sleep until that evening (223d).

	==Authors and works cited in the ''Symposium''==		==Authors and works cited in the ''Symposium''==

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Alcibiades

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	===Alcibiades===		===Alcibiades===

	Entering upon the scene late and inebriated, he pays tribute to Socrates. Like Agathon and Aristophanes, [[Alcibiades]] is a historical person from ancient Athens. A year after the events of the ''Symposium'', his political enemies would drive him to flee Athens under fear of being sentenced to death for [[sacrilege]] and turn traitor to the Spartans.<ref name="Th6.74">Thucydides, [[s:History of the Peloponnesian War/Book 6#6:74\|6.74]]</ref> By his own admission, he is very handsome.		Entering upon the scene late and inebriated, he pays tribute to Socrates. Like Agathon and Aristophanes, [[Alcibiades]] is a historical person from ancient Athens. A year after the events of the ''Symposium'', his political enemies would drive him to flee Athens under fear of being sentenced to death for sacrilege and turn traitor to the Spartans.<ref name="Th6.74">Thucydides, [[s:History of the Peloponnesian War/Book 6#6:74\|6.74]]</ref> By his own admission, he is very handsome.

	Finding himself seated on a couch with Socrates and Agathon, Alcibiades exclaims that Socrates, again, has managed to sit next to the handsomest man in the room, Agathon, and that he is always doing such things (213c). Socrates asks Agathon to protect him from the jealous rage of Alcibiades, asking Alcibiades to forgive him (213d). Alcibiades says he will never do such a thing (213e). Wondering why everyone seems sober, Alcibiades is informed of the night's agreement (213e, c); after saying his drunken ramblings should not be placed next to the sober orations of the rest, and that he hopes no one believed a word Socrates said, Alcibiades proposes to offer an encomium to Socrates (214c-e).		Finding himself seated on a couch with Socrates and Agathon, Alcibiades exclaims that Socrates, again, has managed to sit next to the handsomest man in the room, Agathon, and that he is always doing such things (213c). Socrates asks Agathon to protect him from the jealous rage of Alcibiades, asking Alcibiades to forgive him (213d). Alcibiades says he will never do such a thing (213e). Wondering why everyone seems sober, Alcibiades is informed of the night's agreement (213e, c); after saying his drunken ramblings should not be placed next to the sober orations of the rest, and that he hopes no one believed a word Socrates said, Alcibiades proposes to offer an encomium to Socrates (214c-e).

	Alcibiades begins by comparing Socrates to a statue of [[Silenus]]; the statue is ugly and hollow, and inside it is full of tiny golden statues of the gods (215a-b). He then compares Socrates to a [[satyr]]<ref>Satyrs were often portrayed with the sexual appetite, manners, and features of wild beasts, and often with a large erection.</ref> [[Marsyas]]; Socrates, however, needs no flute to "cast his spell" on people as Marsyas did — he needs only his words (215b-d).		Alcibiades begins by comparing Socrates to a statue of Silenus; the statue is ugly and hollow, and inside it is full of tiny golden statues of the gods (215a-b). He then compares Socrates to a [[satyr]]<ref>Satyrs were often portrayed with the sexual appetite, manners, and features of wild beasts, and often with a large erection.</ref> Marsyas; Socrates, however, needs no flute to "cast his spell" on people as Marsyas did — he needs only his words (215b-d).

	Alcibiades states that when he hears Socrates speak, he feels overwhelmed. The words of Socrates are the only ones to have ever upset him so deeply that his soul started to realize that his aristocratic life was no better than a slave's (215e). Socrates is the only man who has ever made Alcibiades feel shame (216b). Yet all this is the least of it (216c)- Socrates is mad about beautiful boys, following them around in a daze (216d). Most people, he continues, don't know what Socrates is like on the inside:		Alcibiades states that when he hears Socrates speak, he feels overwhelmed. The words of Socrates are the only ones to have ever upset him so deeply that his soul started to realize that his aristocratic life was no better than a slave's (215e). Socrates is the only man who has ever made Alcibiades feel shame (216b). Yet all this is the least of it (216c)- Socrates is mad about beautiful boys, following them around in a daze (216d). Most people, he continues, don't know what Socrates is like on the inside:

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Socrates

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	In the conclusion of her exposition Diotima explains that men should make an ascent to arrive at the discovery of the Ideal Form of Beauty. Men should start with the love of a particular beautiful person. The next step is to pass from this particular instance to beauty in general, and from physical to moral beauty. The fourth step is to attain the love of wisdom, and then from this to the appreciation of the absolute and divine beauty (the Form of Beauty).<ref name="Translation by W. Hamilton" />		In the conclusion of her exposition Diotima explains that men should make an ascent to arrive at the discovery of the Ideal Form of Beauty. Men should start with the love of a particular beautiful person. The next step is to pass from this particular instance to beauty in general, and from physical to moral beauty. The fourth step is to attain the love of wisdom, and then from this to the appreciation of the absolute and divine beauty (the Form of Beauty).<ref name="Translation by W. Hamilton" />

	This speech, in the interpretation of [[Marsilio Ficino]] in ''De amore'' (1484), is the origin of the concept of [[Platonic love]].		This speech, in the interpretation of Marsilio Ficino in ''De amore'' (1484), is the origin of the concept of Platonic love.

	===Alcibiades===		===Alcibiades===

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	~~[[File:Plato's Symposium - Anselm Feuerbach - Google Cultural Institute.jpg\|thumbnail\|333px\| Plato's Symposium, depiction by [[Anselm Feuerbach]] ]]~~

	The '''''Symposium''''' (Συμπόσιον) is a philosophical text by Plato dated c. 385–370 BC.<ref>Cobb, p. 11.</ref><ref>Leitao, p. 183.</ref> It concerns itself at one level with the genesis, purpose and nature of love, and (in latter-day interpretations) is the origin of the concept of Platonic love.		The '''''Symposium''''' (Συμπόσιον) is a philosophical text by Plato dated c. 385–370 BC.<ref>Cobb, p. 11.</ref><ref>Leitao, p. 183.</ref> It concerns itself at one level with the genesis, purpose and nature of love, and (in latter-day interpretations) is the origin of the concept of Platonic love.

	Love is examined in a sequence of speeches by men attending a ''[[symposium]]'', or drinking party. Each man must deliver an encomium, a speech in praise of Love ([[Eros]]). The party takes place at the house of the tragedian Agathon in [[Athens]]. [[Socrates]] in his speech asserts that the highest purpose of love is to become a philosopher or, literally, a ''lover of wisdom''. The dialogue has been used as a source by social historians seeking to throw light on life in ancient Athens, in particular upon sexual behavior, and the symposium as an institution.		Love is examined in a sequence of speeches by men attending a ''[[symposium]]'', or drinking party. Each man must deliver an encomium, a speech in praise of Love ([[Eros]]). The party takes place at the house of the tragedian Agathon in [[Athens]]. [[Socrates]] in his speech asserts that the highest purpose of love is to become a philosopher or, literally, a ''lover of wisdom''. The dialogue has been used as a source by social historians seeking to throw light on life in ancient Athens, in particular upon sexual behavior, and the symposium as an institution.
			[[File:Plato's Symposium - Anselm Feuerbach - Google Cultural Institute.jpg\|thumbnail\|500px\| Plato's Symposium, depiction by [[Anselm Feuerbach]] ]]
	==Literary form==		==Literary form==
	{{History}}		{{History}}