Comparing Aristophanes And Plato's Symposium
Introduction
Thesis: Love is the connection derived from experiences that gives our lives purpose.
Remaining Introduction: For section I of my paper, I intend to compare two opposing arguments from Aristophanes and Socrates that transpired in Plato’s The Symposium. Additionally, section II will contain my reflection on love through examining multiple questions as I rationalize this fundamental feeling.
Section One One sentence summary of each of my two views on love from The Symposium. Example 1: Aristophanes: Aristophanes’ eulogy expressed his idea that humans prized love above all else as it was the single greatest happiness of the entire human race (Plato 22). Throughout Aristophanes’ argument, he alludes to a myth regarding the creation of humans from the humanoids that were eventually cut into two halves as punishment from the gods (Plato 23). The once complete humanoids were without their other halves; thus, they were no longer whole and did not reap the benefits of feeling whole (Plato 23). Aristophanes concluded that after finding our other halves, humans would feel whole once again and in turn be restored to our original nature that led us to be perfectly happy (Plato 27). Example 2: Socrates: In contrast, Socrates argues that love is a series of progressions that eventually …show more content…
lead to the appreciation of beauty as itself (Plato 43). First, Plato described love as something that was in need of a certain desirable quality that it did not possess; therefore, love is in between multiple dualities as it attempts to eternally hold the better of the two dualities (Plato 39). Our love as humans is similar to the description of love given by Socrates. We continuously try to gain eternal beauties that we lack in order to reach a level of immortality (Plato 46). Specifically, the progress towards a higher understanding of beauty through the means of love starts from loving a single beautiful body then it moves to all beautiful bodies (Plato 49). Next, it transitions to beautiful practices then to beautiful forms of learning (Plato 49). From there it further transitions to recognizing that there is only beauty itself; thus, completing the process of learning the true qualities of beauty through love (Plato 49).
Section II:
Summary of my position: I believe that love is for a wide variety of things including family, true friends, work and partners.
There are only ordered loves, the disordered loves are only an illusion that becomes apparent after time has tested that love. Essentially, love is monumentally important for human flourishing as it gives us purpose in order to fulfill our lives with meaningful relationships, experiences and work. As individual humans, I believe that each of us possess a differing perception on beauty, though we all attempt to achieve it as we follow the things that we believe are beautiful. It’s through desire that we try to reach that beauty of the specific things that give our lives
purpose.
Thesis: Love is the connection derived from experiences that gives our lives purpose.
Remaining Introduction: For section I of my paper, I intend to compare two opposing arguments from Aristophanes and Socrates that transpired in Plato’s The Symposium. Additionally, section II will contain my reflection on love through examining multiple questions as I rationalize this fundamental feeling.
Section One One sentence summary of each of my two views on love from The Symposium. Example 1: Aristophanes: Aristophanes’ eulogy expressed his idea that humans prized love above all else as it was the single greatest happiness of the entire human race (Plato 22). Throughout Aristophanes’ argument, he alludes to a myth regarding the creation of humans from the humanoids that were eventually cut into two halves as punishment from the gods (Plato 23). The once complete humanoids were without their other halves; thus, they were no longer whole and did not reap the benefits of feeling whole (Plato 23). Aristophanes concluded that after finding our other halves, humans would feel whole once again and in turn be restored to our original nature that led us to be perfectly happy (Plato 27). Example 2: Socrates: In contrast, Socrates argues that love is a series of progressions that eventually …show more content…
lead to the appreciation of beauty as itself (Plato 43). First, Plato described love as something that was in need of a certain desirable quality that it did not possess; therefore, love is in between multiple dualities as it attempts to eternally hold the better of the two dualities (Plato 39). Our love as humans is similar to the description of love given by Socrates. We continuously try to gain eternal beauties that we lack in order to reach a level of immortality (Plato 46). Specifically, the progress towards a higher understanding of beauty through the means of love starts from loving a single beautiful body then it moves to all beautiful bodies (Plato 49). Next, it transitions to beautiful practices then to beautiful forms of learning (Plato 49). From there it further transitions to recognizing that there is only beauty itself; thus, completing the process of learning the true qualities of beauty through love (Plato 49).
Section II:
Summary of my position: I believe that love is for a wide variety of things including family, true friends, work and partners.
There are only ordered loves, the disordered loves are only an illusion that becomes apparent after time has tested that love. Essentially, love is monumentally important for human flourishing as it gives us purpose in order to fulfill our lives with meaningful relationships, experiences and work. As individual humans, I believe that each of us possess a differing perception on beauty, though we all attempt to achieve it as we follow the things that we believe are beautiful. It’s through desire that we try to reach that beauty of the specific things that give our lives
purpose.