In Plato's "The Symposium," a banquet is held where several prominent figures, including Socrates, gather to discuss the nature of love. Each guest presents their own view, leading to a rich tapestry of perspectives. Phaedrus praises love as the greatest motivator for honor and sacrifice. Pausanias distinguishes between Common and Heavenly love, emphasizing the purity of the latter. Eryximachus, the physician, sees love as a cosmic force, harmonizing the universe. Aristophanes offers a whimsical myth, describing humans as originally being double beings, split apart by the gods, with love being the search for our other half. Finally, Socrates recounts Diotima’s teachings, presenting love as a ladder of ascent from physical attraction to the love of pure, eternal Beauty. Through these dialogues, "The Symposium" explores love's profound complexities and its role in the human quest for meaning and connection.
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