In his celebrated masterpiece, Symposium, Plato imagines a high-society dinner-party in Athens in 416 BC at which the guests - including the comic poet Aristophanes and, of course, Plato's mentor Socrates - each deliver a short speech in praise of love. The sequence of dazzling speeches culminates in Socrates' famous account of the views of Diotima, a prophetess who taught him that love is our means of trying to attain goodness. And then into the party bursts the drunken Alcibiades, the most popular and notorious Athenian of the time, who insists on praising Socrates himself rather than love, and gives us a brilliant sketch of this enigmatic character. The power, humour, and pathos of Plato's creation engages the reader on every page. This new translation is complemented by full explanatory notes and an illuminating introduction.
Plato
Plato was an ancient Greek philosopher and the founder of the Academy in Athens, the first institution of higher learning in the Western world. His most notable works include "The Republic," "Symposium," and "Phaedo." Plato's dialogues are written in the form of conversations between Socrates and other characters, exploring themes such as ethics, politics, and metaphysics.
Plato's influence on literature is profound, as his philosophical ideas have inspired countless writers and thinkers throughout history. His most famous work, "The Republic," is a seminal text in political philosophy and has had a lasting impact on the genre. Plato's literary style is characterized by its use of dialogue, dialectic, and allegory, making his works both engaging and thought-provoking.
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