Symposium (The Library of Liberal Arts)

Name: Symposium (The Library of Liberal Arts)
Rating: 8.18 (93997 reviews)
Author: Plato
ISBN: 9780672601699

Language: English
Published in: 1956
Publisher: 0672601699
Pages: 64
ISBN: 9780672601699

Plato's Symposium invites readers to an ancient Athenian banquet where an assembly of distinguished guests embarks on a shared quest to define the true nature of love. Through a series of eloquent speeches, figures such as the comic playwright Aristophanes and the orator Pausanias offer diverse and often contrasting perspectives on Eros, ranging from its origins in myth to its role in human virtue and desire.

At the heart of this philosophical dialogue, Socrates presents a profound vision of love as a "Ladder of Love," a transformative ascent from physical attraction to the contemplation of absolute beauty and wisdom itself. This journey reveals love not merely as an emotion, but as a guiding force toward intellectual and spiritual enlightenment, promising a deeper understanding of existence and the pursuit of the good. "The Symposium" is a foundational text that continues to challenge and inspire thought on one of humanity's most enduring subjects.