1. The Symposium
Plato

2. On Plato’s Works Dialogues Oral Tradition Lysis, Phaedrus, Symposium
“Laws”
Banquet Literature
Ecomium
Love/Eros

3. The Players Agathon Socrates Aristodemus Diotima Phaedrus Pausanias
Eryximachos
Aristophanes
Alciabades
Appolodorus

4. The Speeches Phaedrus: Love Pausanias: Common vs. Heavenly Love
Eryximachos: Healthy vs. Diseased Love
Aristophanes: 3 Sexes/Creation/Soulmates
“Lovers don’t finally meet somewhere. They’re in each other all along.” –Rumi
Agathon: Justice, temperance, courage, wisdom.
Diotima: Synthesis
Alciabades: Praises Socrates / Platonic Love

5. Homoerotic Discourse
The Symposium ranks among the greatest examples of homoerotic discourse, as it reveals Greek attitudes toward homosexuality.
Eromenos/Erastes
Rules of “the game”: educative
Fertility rituals

6. Conclusions
Socrates concludes that the ultimate purpose of love is to become a PHILOSOPHER or “LOVER OF WISDOM”.
Book is used as a source for understanding love & sex in ancient Greece, particularly Athens.

7. Questions
Having read Symposium, which of the offered speeches strikes at your heart most strongly and describes the understanding of love that you presently want to hold? If you could, would you extend that perception universally? Why or why not? What would the results be?

8. Questions
What is to be made of Platonic Love? Is love without sex satisfactory?
And, is there virtue or beauty in casual sex? If so, what is it?

9. Questions
What is the fundamental wrong with pedophilia? What makes sex “unhealthy” vs. “healthy”?
Refer to the website for further questions after watching clips from “Hedwig”.
The text discussion will take place in class. It is your job to attend the discussions and make notes in your book and/or notes accordingly.