... consider this asexual affection something other than love, as it bears no children. Plato would respond that intellectual association leads to the creation of timeless ideas, and is therefore a greater love than the physical love which creates children. Plato explores and defends his view of love in the Symposium, specifically in the dialogue between Socrates and Diotima (Symposium, 204e ­ 209e). Plato first defines love by examining the lover, then uses ... this definition to build an abstract function and purpose of love which places intellectual men above childbearing women. Diotima...

• Word Count: 1318
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... . The piece also includes a process he conceptualized to create the ideal republic, hence its title. He was most likely influenced by the Athenian democracy, and his past in a political family. Plato's idea of the republic would have been impervious to corruption, as those considered the leaders would have been trained to live minimally, so that bribes would have no effect on ... greatest and most well known writings are, The Apology, Phaedo, Crito, The Republic, and Symposium. Like I said above, The Apology, Crito, and Phaedo are all about Socrates' trial and execution. Symposium is abo...

• Word Count: 1563
• Approx Pages: 6

... everywhere, and there will never be an end to their production. As Agathon himself says, " do we not know that he only of them whom love inspires has the light of fame? (Symposium, 37)" Love inspires people to do great things, and is the greatest source of pleasure there is. It is no great surprise to find that one of the greatest thinkers ... , even though Socrates is the only real philosopher in the group. The ideas these men put forward in describing the nature of something as powerful yet intangible as love are wonderful. The people in Plato's Symposium are truly great and wise men. ...

• Word Count: 1657
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

... supports his seemingly radical and wacky arguments in Republic. Aristotle of course finds this course of thought ridiculous. He undoubtedly has no problem agreeing with Plato's comments that men are physically stronger and altogether by nature superior to women. The problem here lies in that, like men, each woman has ... some biological reasons as why women are inferior to men. Plato relegates women to the physical realm of begetting children, that being their main purpose. Those whose creative instinct is physical have recourse to women, and show their love in this way believing the by b...

• Word Count: 1570
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... it eluded us for so many generations. There has yet to be a one universal explanation of love and there has yet to be one who understands it's powers fully. As we see from Plato's Symposium, even the wisest of men in a time when the search for knowledge was seen as the pathway ... to enlightenment love was still a concept that was not understood and unknown. Though many of the guidelines and characteristics of love are wise, some may not apply to ... seems an invalid argument today. Soon Phaedrus concludes his oration and Pausanias steps up to deliver another set of guidelines for love....

• Word Count: 2004
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School

... man from the gods. There have been many ideas and theories of what love is, looks like and how its origins have been speculated by many including the respected philosopher Plato. In his work entitled Symposium, Plato attempted to outline the purpose and nature of love, as well as the many facets love can be to one individual. The text also asserts the highest purpose of ... love is to become "a lover of wisdom " or a philosopher, learning and educating others, thus ... showing that love has more than one purpose to man. (Plato, 2001). Researchers, philosophers, anthropologists, theologi...

• Word Count: 1701
• Approx Pages: 7
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... paper I will discuss Aristophanes" speech on love found in Plato's Symposium. I will summarize his speech and explain the characteristics of love as Aristophanes thinks of it. I will also explain Aristophanes" definition of love, and whether or not love is an admirable or good thing. And finally, I will critically discuss the plausibility and implausibility of Aristophanes" view of love. Aristophanes, being a comic poet, offers ... an engaging and mythological perspective on the topic of love ... origins of the human race, we cannot accept it. He does however touch on a very significant...

• Word Count: 1564
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... , something deeper than the author's main point, or something that can be found in a summary. In reading Horace's Satires and Epistles and Plato The Symposium, a very ironic discovery can be made. Socrates and Horace have apparently been granted authority by their immediate audience on their respective topics, however ... ensures that the reader will notice and reflect on them. He does not put himself on a heavenly level, like Diotima in Plato's Symposium, but guarantees his readers that although he has knowledge of how to live a satisfying life and can administer advice on it; he too s...

• Word Count: 1606
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... that is what the novel is about." (Baumbach 7). Comparing Capote's works to that of Plato and Phaedrus, one author states: Baldanza describes their works as "parables on the nature of love", and adds, "They share with Plato's Symposium and Phaedrus in particular that curious tone of purely and absolutely spiritual love which grows out of a diffused and circumambient atmosphere of sexuality that never clearly manifests ... ) can relate to more easily. The heroine in the book, Holly Golightly, is meant to represent what is good in society. He wants everyone to relate to her, and to love he...

• Word Count: 2030
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School