Plato's Symposium is an exceptionally multi-layered dialogue. At once a historical document, a philosophical drama that enacts abstract ideas in an often light-hearted way, and a literary masterpiece, it has exerted an influence that goes well beyond the confines of philosophy. The essays in this volume, by leading scholars, offer detailed analyses of all parts of the work, focusing on the central and much-debated theme of eros or 'human desire' - which can refer both to physical desire or desire for happiness. They reveal thematic continuities between the prologue and the various speeches as well as between the speeches themselves, and present a rich collection of contrasting yet complementary readings of Diotima's speech. The volume will be invaluable for classicists and philosophers alike, and for all who are interested in one of Plato's most fascinating and challenging dialogues.

A comprehensive and incisive treatment of this multi-layered dialogue and its main critical issues, focusing on the central theme of eros.

About the Author
Pierre Destree is Associate Research Professor in Philosophy at Universite Catholique de Louvain, Belgium. He has co-edited several volumes on ancient ethics, politics, and aesthetics, including The Cambridge Companion to Aristotle's Politics (Cambridge, 2013). Zina Giannopoulou is Associate Professor in Classics at the University of California, Irvine. Her publications include Plato's Theaetetus as a Second Apology (2013).


Book Information
ISBN 9781107525696
Author Pierre Destree
Format Paperback
Page Count 280
Imprint Cambridge University Press
Publisher Cambridge University Press
Weight(grams) 400g
Dimensions(mm) 229mm * 152mm * 16mm