10.1 The nature of love (Eros) and its objects

In Plato's Symposium, love (Eros) is portrayed as a powerful force driving humans towards beauty and wisdom. The dialogue explores love's nature through various speeches, culminating in Socrates' account of Diotima's teachings on love's transformative power.

Love is depicted as a journey from physical attraction to spiritual beauty, ultimately leading to the Form of Beauty itself. This ascent challenges conventional views, presenting love as a philosophical pursuit that elevates the soul and enables the creation of virtue and wisdom.

The nature of love (Eros) and its objects

Plato's concept of love in the Symposium

Top images from around the web for Plato's concept of love in the Symposium

• 

  File:The Symposium of Plato LACMA M.90.53.jpg - Wikimedia Commons View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Symposium (Plato) - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Platonische Liebe – Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  File:The Symposium of Plato LACMA M.90.53.jpg - Wikimedia Commons View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Symposium (Plato) - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

Top images from around the web for Plato's concept of love in the Symposium

• 

  File:The Symposium of Plato LACMA M.90.53.jpg - Wikimedia Commons View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Symposium (Plato) - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Platonische Liebe – Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  File:The Symposium of Plato LACMA M.90.53.jpg - Wikimedia Commons View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Symposium (Plato) - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

• Plato presents love (Eros) through speeches culminating in Socrates' account of Diotima's teachings
• Depicts Eros as a daimon intermediary between gods and humans
• Born from Poros (resource) and Penia (poverty)
• Characterizes love as lack or desire for what one does not possess
• Drives individuals to seek beauty, goodness, and wisdom
• Presents love as a ladder or ascent progressing from physical attraction to spiritual beauty
• Culminates in appreciation of the Form of Beauty itself
• Emphasizes goal of Eros as production of virtue and wisdom
• Leads to a form of immortality through creation (philosophical ideas, art)
• Challenges conventional views of love as purely physical or emotional
• Portrays love as a philosophical and spiritual pursuit
• Highlights transformative power of love in elevating the human soul
• Enables progression towards higher forms of knowledge and being

Relationship between love and beauty

• Establishes intrinsic connection between love (Eros) and beauty (Kalos)
• Presents beauty as primary object of love's desire
• Depicts beauty as a hierarchical concept ranging from physical to moral beauty
• Culminates in the Form of Beauty itself
• Describes pursuit of beauty through love as gradual ascent
• Moves from particular instances (individual person) to universal beauty (concept of beauty)
• Argues true love involves recognition and appreciation of beauty in various manifestations
• Encompasses both physical and spiritual forms of beauty
• Portrays philosopher's role as guide in ascent towards higher forms of beauty
• Facilitates others' spiritual and intellectual growth
• Presents beauty as means of accessing the divine
• Form of Beauty represents ultimate truth and reality
• Emphasizes transformative power of aesthetic experiences in human development
• Enhances understanding of self and the world

Role of Eros in epistemology and metaphysics

• Plays crucial role in Plato's epistemology as driving force for knowledge acquisition
• Serves as bridge between sensible world and intelligible realm of Forms in metaphysics
• Depicts pursuit of knowledge through Eros as ascent from opinion (doxa) to true knowledge (episteme)
• Presents Eros as philosophical method guiding soul from ignorance to wisdom
• Utilizes dialectic and contemplation in this process
• Connects concept of anamnesis (recollection) to Eros
• Love awakens soul's innate knowledge of the Forms
• Portrays Eros as means of transcending physical world
• Enables access to higher truths aligning with Plato's theory of Forms
• Directs erotic experience towards intellectual illumination
• Leads to grasp of ultimate reality in Plato's philosophy

Ethical implications of Plato's theory of love

• Emphasizes cultivation of virtue and wisdom as highest forms of love
• Critiques conventional views of love focused on physical or self-interested conceptions
• Suggests true love involves caring for beloved's soul
• Fosters intellectual and moral growth of the beloved
• Implies hierarchy of ethical behavior
• Positions philosophical love as superior to purely physical or emotional attachments
• Promotes self-improvement and pursuit of excellence (arete) as ethical imperatives
• Influences interpersonal relationships
• Suggests ideal love based on shared pursuit of wisdom and virtue
• Raises questions about nature of desire and its proper objects
• Influences later ethical discussions on love and human flourishing (eudaimonia)

Comparison with other philosophical perspectives

• Differs from Aristotle's concept of philia emphasizing mutual goodwill and shared virtue
• Contrasts with Epicurean views focusing on physical pleasure and pain avoidance in relationships
• Compares to Stoic perspectives emphasizing rational control over emotions
• Differs from Christian conceptions of divine love (agape) in its philosophical nature
• Contrasts with modern romantic notions emphasizing emotional connection and individual fulfillment
• Compares to existentialist perspectives focusing on authenticity and freedom in relationships
• Differs from pragmatic or naturalistic views of love in contemporary philosophy
• Unique in presenting love as means to access higher truths and ultimate reality