¶ … speech of Aristophanes in the Symposium. Specifically, it will evaluate Aristophanes' myth and answer the questions, do you agree with the view of love that it presents? Disagree? Do you consider it useful? Do you consider it misleading? Why? Aristophanes' Myth is meant to be funny, but it also makes the reader stop and think about the roles we assign to each other as humans, and as lovers. Myth is just that, something made up to educate or amuse, and this myth does both in its own way. Love is one of the strongest emotions, and so, it brings out strong reactions, just as this speech does. The view of love that Aristophanes presents in his speech is certainly not the most accepted view of love, yet it has its own merit. Love does not have to be between a man and a woman. There is perhaps no more deep and abiding love than that of a parent and child, and this is not based solely on sex or gender, it is based on the love one has for family, and the product of a loving relationship. Thus, the product of a relationship...
This is how we recreate our own needs and wants in our children, and this is how love is perpetuated. Aristophanes said that love "tries to make one out of two and heal the wound of human nature" ("Speech" 27). These words could be an anthem to love, and man's ability to love.
Indeed, when Alcibiades arrives, we are reminded that love is quite extraordinary, and even Diotima suggests this to her pupil: "For love, Socrates, is not, as you imagine, the love of the beautiful only." "What then?" "The love of generation and of birth in beauty." "Yes," I said. "Yes, indeed," she replied. "But why of generation?" "Because to the mortal creature, generation is a sort of eternity and immortality"
Plato's Symposium is one of the most widely read of his dialogues. It is said to be a departure from the usual style because except for a brief portion, it is not written in dialectical style. Instead, a variety of speakers have the opportunity to present their view on the topic of love; when they are done, Socrates speaks (Pecorino). There has also been speculation that this dialogue was written
Plato, Epictetus, & Nietzsche When we discuss how Plato presents the most appropriate human attitude toward bodily appetite and/or passion, it is vital to note that Plato's method of discussing philosophy in dialogue -- as though this were a drama with characters each competing for attention, but with an overarching dramatic structure above and beyond those chattering characters which more subtly guides the way we are meant to understand the competing
Homosexual marriage does not pose a threat to me or my manhood therefore I am for it." Although I am heterosexual, I know what it means to long for union with another human being. I will choose a woman for my partner, but if another man desires to choose one of his own sex, there is no harm for me in his choice. In fact, since we are both
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