Symposium by Plato (385)
The dialogue takes place at a banquet where a group of men engage in discussions about love and beauty. The main speaker, Phaedrus, argues that the soul is immortal and that it exists before birth and after death. He claims that the goal of human life is to recall this knowledge through philosophical contemplation. Phaedrus' speech is followed by a series of responses from other characters, including Socrates, who questions the idea of love as a form of madness. The dialogue explores various perspectives on love, beauty, and the nature of reality. The discussion revolves around the concept of the Forms, which are abstract, eternal, and perfect entities that underlie the imperfect, changing world we experience through our senses. The characters debate whether it is possible to know these Forms directly or if they can only be known indirectly through reasoning and contemplation. Throughout the dialogue, Plato critiques various philosophical views on love and beauty, including those of the Sophists and other philosophers of his time. He presents a nuanced and complex exploration of the human experience, highlighting the tensions between reason and emotion, individual desire and universal truth.
By Plato · First published 385 · Genre: Philosophy, Dialogue, Classical Literature · 25,724 words
First lines
Persons of the dialogue: Apollodorus, who repeats to his companion the dialogue which he had heard from Aristodemus, and had already once narrated to Glaucon Phaedrus Pausanias Eryximachus Aristophanes Agathon Socrates Alcibiades A troop of revellers
Scene: The House of Agathon
What this Textopian page supports
Symposium is listed on Textopian as an essay by Plato, dated 385 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Essay
- Author: Plato
- Date: 385 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Philosophy, Dialogue, Classical Literature, Rhetoric, Social Commentary
- Length: 25,724 words
- Structure: 1 section, 179 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Symposium by Plato
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Symposium?
- How does this essay by Plato fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Philosophy first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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Genres
- Philosophy — The text explores profound philosophical themes such as love, beauty, and the nature of desire through dialogues.
- Dialogue — The work is structured as a series of conversations among characters, typical of Socratic dialogues.
- Classical Literature — It is a significant work within the canon of ancient Greek literature, reflecting the cultural and intellectual context of its time.
- Rhetoric — The speeches presented in the text showcase the art of persuasion and the use of rhetoric in philosophical argumentation.
Tags
Philosophy · Drama · Dialogue · Ancient Greek Literature · Socratic Method · Platonic Philosophy · Love · Beauty · Truth · Knowledge · Wisdom · Ethics