Within the dialogue, the speakers told of the characteristics of the gods related to love as a definition of what love is. Enjoy these four amazing philosophical works that have stood the test of time. Symposium was written around 384 bc, and many would regard it as plato s finest dialogue, from an artistic point of view, and the most enjoyable to read or listen to. So with that in mind, the symposium as translated here is very readable and has some interesting ideas to ponder. Good quality second hand book, aged but nearly as new. It is one of the most influential works of philosophy and political theory, and arguably plato s best known work. At this party, you meet plato s mentor, socrates, and the comic poet aristophanes. 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. The symposium is a collection of dinner conversations in the subject of love and whilst very of its time, still relevant today. Griffiths translation is well chosenit is swift an unlabored, perfect for a dramatic presentation.
A model of the kind of text one needs for lecture courses. Apr 17, 2017 plato wrote the symposium about the ancient athenian cultural tradition in which men would drink, discuss philosophical subjects, compose speeches and sing songs. The dramatic nature of plato s dialogues is delightfully evident in symposium. The symposium, as plato intended it, succeeds both as a work of philosophy, and as a work of seriocomic theater. The guestsincluding the comic poet aristophanes and plato s mentor socrateseach deliver a short speech in praise of love. The symposium by plato full audio book ancient greek philosophy subscribe to greatest audio books. The discussion culminates in a radical challenge to conventional views by plato s mentor, socrates, who advocates transcendence through spiritual love. Nov 14, 2012 the symposium by plato full audio book ancient greek philosophy subscribe to greatest audio books.
The text has been credited with influencing how western literature portrays and interprets love and beauty. During the banquet, each of these men is invited to praise eros, t. This critical guide to platos symposium fits the mold admirably. My first foray into plato and a good place to start an easy going quick read book. M4b audio book 188mb download cover art download cd case insert. 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. Mar 10, 2020 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. Feb 09, 20 on reading symposium for the first time, i thought plato was not a feminist. It depicts a friendly contest of extemporaneous speeches given by a group of notable men attending a banquet. The works contained in this audiobook include the republic, the apology, crito, and symposium.
Socrates and aristodemus will attend a banquet at agathon, with aristophanes, appolodore, pausanias and eryximachus. Firstly phaedrus says at the very start of his speech, love is a great god, plato, 178b which shows he thinks love to be male and throughout his speech he uses the pronoun he for love which happens in almost each speech. The topic of love is taken up in the form of a group of speeches, given by a group of men at a. In his celebrated masterpiece, symposium, plato imagines a highsociety dinnerparty in athens in 416 bc. With wit and insight, they all present their ideas about love from erixymachus scientific naturalism to aristophanes comic fantasy. Symposium is a beautiful little book, and easy to read, like all of platos dialogues. It is one of the most influential works of philosophy and political theory, and arguably platos best known work. The symposium by plato meet your next favorite book. The guests decide not to get drunk, but drinking a little and discuss about love. They talk about love until the drunken alcibiades bursts in, and decides to talk about socrates instead.
Platos symposium audiobook by plato 9781887250290 rakuten. Look for the on plato s symposium translation for a more literal version, available in a dialogues of plato paperback. The men include the philosopher socrates, the general and political figure alcibiades, and the comic playwright aristophanes. Purchase a copy of this text not necessarily the same edition from. This audiobook contains plato s most notable books, narrated brilliantly by kevin kollins. The symposium by plato full audio book ancient greek. Christopher gills translation retains all the drama and humour of the greek, bringing the historical figures to life. Plato intentionally portrays some as ignorant and others as valid thoughts on the matter of love. Signin to download and listen to this audiobook today. 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.
Sep 07, 2016 the dramatic nature of plato s dialogues is delightfully evident in symposium. In one of platos more accessible works, apollodorus tells a friend about a drinking party or symposium attended by many of intellectuals of late 5th century athens. Listen to platos symposium by plato available from rakuten kobo. 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. The symposium quotes by plato meet your next favorite book. Get 50% off this audiobook at the audiobooksnow online audio book store and download or stream it right to your computer, smartphone or tablet. Allens superb new translation of platossymposiumbrings this classic text to life for modern readers. 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 topic of love is taken up in the form of a group of speeches, given by a group of men at a symposium. The national endowment for the humanities provided support for entering this text.
Platos symposium by plato on free audio book download. Free audio book that you can download in mp3, ipod and itunes format for your portable audio player. For my money a good translation, very readable and entertaining and good forward explaining the work, which i read afterwards. Start a free 30day trial today and get your first audiobook. Analysis of platos relation to love in symposium the symposium shows different popular views about love during platos time. 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. 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. This classic discussion on love is presented in its. The dramatic nature of platos dialogues is delightfully evident in the symposium.
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. No fewer than six of its thirteen contributions those by sedley, sheffield, nightingale, shields, price, and destree home in on the goal of philosophic ascent in diotimas speech and the characteristic activity of the philosopher who has achieved it. Platos feministic approach in symposium auws interpreting. In a way, its a romantic discussion, filled with zeal towards the beauty, the passion for philosophy as a search for truth. There are many reasons for this, including the keyhole glimpse it gives us of athenian society. The marriage between character and thought bursts forth as the guests gather. The annenberg cpbproject provided support for entering this text. 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. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. Plato, ray childs, agora, new internet technologies. It is a discussion on the nature of love, taking the form of a group of speeches, both satirical. In this acclaimed plato masterpiece, you travel back in time to attend an elaborate high society dinner. Plato s main text on love, the symposium, takes a broad look at what love means, offering a serious yet humorous, poignant and flippant, literary philosophical discussion of the topic, with some famous but also surprising outcomes. Symposium gives a picture of the sparkling society that was athens at the height of her empire.
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. The marriage between character and thought bursts forth as the guests gather at agathons house to celebrate the success of his first tragedy. In the book, platos symposium, by plato, who was a philosopher in greece, he illustrates the dialectic discussion at a party at agathons to celebrate his triumph of his first tragedy. Feb 01, 2001 bernadetes essay, on platos symposium 20 pages. Symposium is central in platos philosophy, since it talks about love and ideas.
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