In ancient Greece, a symposium was an after-dinner gathering marked by drinks, lively music, dance, and engaging dialogue. The famous dialogue, the Symposium, recounts an event hosted by Agathon to celebrate his recent dramatic victory. Having already indulged in festivities the day prior, the attendees choose to moderate their drinking and instead, focus on intellectual discourse, specifically on the topic of love. To the Greeks, love was considered divine, though its exact nature was debated, as demonstrated by the varied speeches recorded in the Symposium.

The Speeches and Their Themes

Among the attendees is the philosopher Socrates, who is slated to speak last. Before him, Phaedrus, Pausanias, Eryximachus, Aristophanes, and Agathon himself each deliver their own interpretations. While all concur that love possesses divine attributes, they diverge in their beliefs about its origins and its connections to the pantheon of gods. Furthermore, while they all recognize love’s significant influence on human life, they disagree on whether this influence is beneficial or detrimental. Their speeches unveil contemporary views on sexuality, with Agathon’s poetic prowess earning particular acclaim. Socrates follows, with the challenge of matching the eloquence of those before him.

Socrates’ Unique Perspective

Socrates, unfazed by the task at hand, offers a distinct perspective on love that deviates from the norm, much like his approach to various other philosophical inquiries. He discards the traditional mythological framework and introduces a novel understanding with fresh insights. His predecessors spoke within the confines of Greek mythology, attempting to elevate love beyond earthly pleasures, yet ultimately presenting it as somewhat mundane.

Revelation Through Diotima

Socrates dismisses previous discussions as superficial and claims to hold a deeper truth about love, a truth imparted by the wise Diotima from Mantineia. She enlightened him on the true nature of love as an impetus that drives individuals to look beyond the deceptive allure of the physical world to pursue beauty in its purest form. Striving to attain this transcendent beauty is vital for true human fulfillment, as it aligns with the pursuit of absolute goodness, which is inherently linked to genuine happiness.

The Journey to Absolute Beauty

Yet, attaining this absolute beauty doesn't mean ignoring the world entirely in favor of the divine. Socrates argues that people can glimpse absolute beauty through tangible instances in the material world, like the allure of a flower or the charm of another person. These instances draw their existence from absolute beauty, suggesting that they all participate in its essence. When individuals find joy in the beauty of the world, it is a reflection of their innate longing for the ultimate beauty that can satiate them. Thus, the appreciation of specific beautiful things should ideally propel one toward the ultimate beauty. The greatest tragedy would be to become so infatuated with worldly beauties that one never reaches the essence of Beauty itself.

Acknowledgment of Socrates’ Contribution

Upon concluding his discourse, Socrates’ speech is acknowledged by all present as the most insightful and valuable contribution to their discussion on love. The narrative of the Symposium wraps up with the introduction of a new character, Alcibiades, who brings to light Socrates’ myriad virtues beyond his exceptional philosophical acumen. Socrates emerges not only as intellectually superior but also as a morally exemplary individual.