Plato on love and desire Flashcards
(12 cards)
What does Aristophanes suggest about gender roles?
That they have equal souls given that they once came from one body, “the shape of each human was rounded whole, with back and sides forming a circle.
Aristophanes on marriage
“Men have no natural…
interest in getting married… forced to do this by convention.” Aristophanes on marriage, void of love.
“Reproduction is the closest thing…
that mortals can get to being permanently alive and immortal.” Diotima on marriage. Mentally pregnant men are superior to men with immortal children however.
Pausanias on sexual love.
Pandemian Eros is inferior to intellect, “A bad man… loves the body rather than the mind.
How does Diotima and Plato’s Laws feel about sex?
D sees that sex has a societal function, “closest mortals can come to being permanently alive and immortal.”
Laws; Plato criminalises homosexuality, masturbation, incest and adultery bc they prevent the societal function of reproduction, he undergoes a shift from a utilitarian to an intellectual standpoint to being focused on the state.
How does Plato relate sex to sophrosyne?
In Republic, Plato states that the ideal citizen does not engage in sexual pleasure as it is a form of madness, and lack of discipline (sophrosyne)
How does Phaedrus explore the significance and necessity of love?
Love produces shame which inspires people to succeed, “inspired into courage by love”. No young man can benefit more than having an older lover, and vise versa. Would rather die than show cowardice in front of their partner, an army full of loved people would constantly strive for greater honour. (Theban sacred Band an army of 150 male lovers)
Uranian Eros vs Pandemian Eros
Pausanias suggests a correct way to love, Pandemian is common love for the body rather than the mind (probably heterosexual) whereas Uranian Eros leads to significant mental enrichment.
What does Agathon associate love with?
Love is associated with you and beauty, “Love naturally hates old age”. (Sappho pre-occupation with female attractiveness at times)
“They are all sick…
with the excitement of love, and that makes them first want to have sex with each other and then to rear what they have brought into being.” Love as sickness that rids one of sensibility (link to Sappho)
Aristophanes on natural desire
Innate in human nature given our origins as halves of a whole, “Love is the name for the desire and the pursuit of wholeness.”
Alcibiades on his desire for Socrates?
- Makes him lose better judgement, has happened against his will, “Whenever I list to him, my frenzy is greater than that of the Corybantes.” (armed and crested dancers who worship the Phrygian goddess Cybele in a frenzy)
- Socrates diminishes the importance of physical attraction bc of his high intellect, “He completely triumphed over my good looks… I placed a very high value on these looks”.
