Within Plato's Symposium, a series of six dialogues regarding the nature of Love are discussed at length. ... By having the text flow in this way, it becomes clear that Plato intended for Diotima and her speech to stand out. Moreover, the vernacular of Diotima's speech is oracular and her tone of voice sounds almost prophetic. ... Additionally, Plato's inclusion of a female character was a perfect way to introduce opposition to the male-dominated absolutism of the Symposium. ... Based on this passage, it is clear that Socrates was profoundly affected by Diotima's speech. ...

• Word Count: 768
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

In Plato's Symposium there are three major speeches given by Aristophanes, Socrates and Alcibiades, where each portrays a different aspect of human sexuality and love. Aristophanes" speech is a fantastic representation of humans that were separated into two halves engaged in desperate search for their other half, while Socrates" speech is a rhetoric of a conversation he was engaged in with the priestess Diotima, and finally Alcibiades" speech is a tribute to his teacher Socrates. Even though Aristophones" speech is a fantastical story that explained why humans are in constant, desper...

• Word Count: 608
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

A striking example of the influence of Plato on Augustine is Augustine's critical appropriation of the ancient concept of eros. ... In Plato's Symposium, Socrates shares with us the nature of nature of eros through a speech recounting his dialogue with Diotima. ... Augustine also had very different beliefs about sexual desire than did Plato. Plato's teachings taught that through the hierarchy of eros, sexual desire was used to climb the ladder to wisdom. ... Plato agrees that the attraction to an individual body can be distracting, but he feels this distraction can be resist...

• Word Count: 857
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: Undergraduate