The historical socrates sought to bring philosophy down from the heavens to thrive in the streets of the agora the marketplace. In his celebrated masterpiece, symposium, plato imagines a highsociety dinnerparty in athens in 416 bc. Symposium is central in platos philosophy, since it talks about love and ideas. It is a discussion on the nature of love, taking the form of a group of speeches, both satirical. Symposium the ladder of love by allan bloom on plato s symposium by seth benardete includes bibliographical references counter plato, allan bloom wrote, is the most erotic of philosophers, and his symposium is one of the greatest works on the nature of love ever written. Start a free 30day trial today and get your first audiobook. Diotima also questions socrates, who used to think that love was beautiful and good. This is the discourse between socrates and diotima from plato s symposium. Symposium, plato, a full cast, david shaw parker, nonfictionlectures, nonfiction, naxos audiobooks, 2. This is the talk page for discussing improvements to the symposium plato article. Socrates retells a speech he heard from diotima, a woman he describes as wise, but who was apparently a fictitious character.
The discussion culminates in a radical challenge to conventional views by platos mentor, socrates, who advocates transcendence through spiritual love. The marriage between character and thought bursts forth as the guests gather at agathons house to celebrate the success. With wit and insight, they all present their ideas about love from erixymachus scientific naturalism to aristophanes comic fantasy. Following the argumentation in the book, to search for an answer for what eros is one should already be possessed with it. Introduction to platos symposium the symposium tells the story of a drinking party in which the guests agree to put aside their desire for wine, women and music and deliver speeches in honor of eros, a word often translated as love but more aptly described as sexual desire or passionate love. The symposium by plato meet your next favorite book.
The symposium is a collection of dinner conversations in the subject of love and whilst very of its time, still relevant today. Platos symposium is one of the best loved classics from the ancient world, a work of consummate beauty as both philosophy and as literature, most appropriate since the topic of this dialogue is the. Although the historical socrates was a strong influence on plato, the character by that name that appears in many of his dialogues is a product of plato s fertile imagination. The symposium is about the origin, purpose and nature of love. In a way, its a romantic discussion, filled with zeal towards the beauty, the passion for philosophy as a search for truth. Agora publications offers dramatic performances of the dialogues of plato and david hume to help recapture this valuable socratic tradition. Each man must deliver a speech in praise of love eros. The guestsincluding the comic poet aristophanes and platos mentor socrateseach deliver a. Get 50% off this audiobook at the audiobooksnow online audio book store and download or stream it right to your computer, smartphone or tablet. In symposium, a group of athenian aristocrats attend a party held by agathon to celebrate his victory in the drama festival of the dionysia. Apollodorus tells the story of a drinking party or symposium that occurs long ago. Cancel online anytime and keep all your audiobooks.
Socrates and diotima from platos symposium youtube. For a brief introduction to plato check out plato in 90 minutes. The annenberg cpbproject provided support for entering this text. A model of the kind of text one needs for lecture courses. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Buy the symposium penguin great ideas new ed by plato isbn. Symposium by plato diotima questions socrates and the. It depicts a friendly contest of extemporaneous speeches given by a group of. The guestsincluding the comic poet aristophanes and plato s mentor socrateseach deliver a short speech in praise of love. The symposium is a deft interweaving of different viewpoints and ideas about the nature of love as a response to beauty, a cosmic force or a path to goodness. The works contained in this audiobook include the republic, the apology, crito, and symposium. They talk about love until the drunken alcibiades bursts in, and decides to talk about socrates instead. Look for the on plato s symposium translation for a more literal version, available in a dialogues of plato paperback.
If youre into this feeling, you should definitely listen carefully to this book. Analysis of platos relation to love in symposium the symposium shows different popular views about love during platos time. Firstly phaedrus says at the very start of his speech, love is a great god, plato, 178b which shows he. On one level the book deals with the genealogy, nature and purpose of love, on another level the book. Platos symposium audiobook by plato 9781887250290 rakuten. Once again, the structure of the speech begins with telling of the qualities of love before talking of his works. Platos retelling of the discourses between socrates and his friends on such subjects as love and desire, truth and illusion, spiritual transcendence and the qualities of a good ruler, profoundly. This audiobook gave me that feeling like i wanted to cry, not because i was sad, but because i was so moved. Allen supplements his translation with a commentary that not only enriches our. Googles cache is the snapshot that we took of the page as we crawled the web. Socrates, xenophon, and plato get any book for free on.
Socrates didnt believe in writing words down lucky for us plato did. Socrates and aristodemus will attend a banquet at agathon, with aristophanes, appolodore, pausanias and. Aug 17, 2012 the symposium is about the origin, purpose and nature of love. M4b compatible with most audio book players and itunes. For my money a good translation, very readable and entertaining and good forward explaining the work, which i read. Enjoy these four amazing philosophical works that have stood the test of time. The guests decide not to get drunk, but drinking a little and discuss about love. The symposium by plato full audio book ancient greek philosophy subscribe to greatest audio books. So with that in mind, the symposium as translated here is very readable and has some interesting ideas to ponder. Symposium annotated by plato plato, paperback barnes. For my money a good translation, very readable and entertaining and good forward explaining the work, which i read afterwards.
The revelers give their views on the timeless topics of love and desire, all the while addressing many of the major themes of platonic philosophy. This dialogue is unlike the others of plato, in as much as, socrates does not question the others in the dialectical fashion, except briefly. Symposium plato language watch edit active discussions. Listen to platos symposium by plato available from rakuten kobo. On reading symposium for the first time, i thought plato was not a feminist. In symposium plato is, as always, an idealist, and that is saying that debate in. Sep 07, 2016 the dramatic nature of plato s dialogues is delightfully evident in symposium. Platos feministic approach in symposium auws interpreting. The dramatic nature of platos dialogues is delightfully evident in the symposium. Socrates and aristodemus go to a party given for agathon, since agathon has just won a contest for. Symposium is one of the major works of plato, and one of the works that laid a foundation for the entire history of western thought.
As in 33 minutes into the 2nd book in the audio version, i was 12 way through the 3rd book. The symposium by plato full audio book ancient greek. This is the best audio book of platos republic and its. The party takes place at the house of the tragedian agathon in athens. Purchase a copy of this text not necessarily the same edition from. Symposium by plato, 9780192834270, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide.
This study guide consists of approximately 29 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of symposium. It depicts a friendly contest of extemporaneous speeches given by a group. The symposium is a deft interweaving of different viewpoints and ideas about the nature of love as a response to beauty, a cosmic force, a motive for social action and as a means of ethical education. On one level the book deals with the genealogy, nature and purpose of love, on another level the book deals with the topic of knowledge, specifically how does one know what one knows. The discussion culminates in a radical challenge to conventional views by plato s mentor, socrates, who advocates transcendence through spiritual love. Allen supplements his translation with a commentary that not only enriches our understanding of platos philosophy and the world of greek antiquity but also provides insights into presentday philosophical concerns. Christopher gills translation retains all the drama and humour of the greek, bringing the historical figures to life. Instead the various speakers take turns, as it were, each offering what he knows from his own perspective and then socrates presents a view that can place the others within a grander. The marriage between character and thought bursts forth as the guests gather at agathons house to celebrate the success of his first tragedy.
Love is examined in a sequence of speeches by men attending a symposium, or drinking party. And for a free download of audio notes on socrates check out zaadz notes. Symposium is not my favorite dialog to read, but it is my favorite to listen to. The marriage between character and thought bursts forth as the guests gather at agathons house to. This is the best audio book of platos republic and its free. The dramatic nature of plato s dialogues is delightfully evident in symposium. Allens superb new translation of platossymposiumbrings this classic text to life for modern readers.
Plato s symposium this dialogue is unlike the others of plato, in as much as, socrates does not question the others in the dialectical fashion, except briefly. In 1845, soren kierkegaard recreated the socratic drinking party symposium, at which five aesthetes offer their modern philosophies of love. Socrates and aristodemus will attend a banquet at agathon, with aristophanes, appolodore, pausanias and eryximachus. In symposium, a group of athenian aristocrats attend a party held by. Symposium gives a picture of the sparkling society that was athens at the height of her empire. Within the dialogue, the speakers told of the characteristics of the gods related to love as a definition of what love is. This audiobook contains platos most notable books, narrated brilliantly by kevin kollins. I tried to listen to this recording a month ago when we were going over the republic. The republic, the apology, crito, and symposium audiobook cover. Middle dialogues symposium, english translation by benjamin jowett public domain audiobook at librivox bbc in our time. In the symposium, plato recounts a drinking party following an evening meal, where the guests include the poet aristophanes, the drunken alcibiades, and, of course, the wise socrates. It depicts a friendly contest of extemporaneous speeches given by a group of notable men attending a banquet.
Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. The dramatic nature of platos dialogues is delightfully evident in symposium. Introduction to platos symposium the symposium tells the story of a drinking party in which the guests agree to put aside their desire for wine, women and music and deliver speeches in honor of eros, a. My first foray into plato and a good place to start an easy going quick read book. Many of his works can also be downloaded from online resources. The symposium, as plato intended it, succeeds both as a work of philosophy, and as a work of seriocomic theater. Griffiths translation is well chosenit is swift an unlabored, perfect for a dramatic presentation. Nov 14, 2012 the symposium by plato full audio book ancient greek philosophy subscribe to greatest audio books. The symposium is a philosophical text by plato dated c. This classic discussion on love is presented in its. Plato intentionally portrays some as ignorant and others as valid thoughts on. He wrote approximately twodozen dialogues that explore core topics that are essential to all human beings. Hij hoorde het verhaal over het symposium van aristodemus en vertelt het verder aan een. After trial, get 1 audiobook and 2 audible originals each month.
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