This paper will discuss Plato's view of love in The Symposium, in particular the arguments presented by the Diotima character, but not neglecting all the other views of love presented therein. The paper, as the title...This paper will discuss Plato's view of love in The Symposium, in particular the arguments presented by the Diotima character, but not neglecting all the other views of love presented therein. The paper, as the title indicates, will be confined to a comparison and evaluation of Platonic love against love as articulated within Christianity. Both forms of love will be analyzed and I will attempt to show that although Plato, through Socrates (and Socrates through the Diotima character), tries to redeem the traditional understanding of love in the ancient Greek society that he was living in, Platonic love is still very different from the Christian concept of love.展开更多
文摘This paper will discuss Plato's view of love in The Symposium, in particular the arguments presented by the Diotima character, but not neglecting all the other views of love presented therein. The paper, as the title indicates, will be confined to a comparison and evaluation of Platonic love against love as articulated within Christianity. Both forms of love will be analyzed and I will attempt to show that although Plato, through Socrates (and Socrates through the Diotima character), tries to redeem the traditional understanding of love in the ancient Greek society that he was living in, Platonic love is still very different from the Christian concept of love.