English paper- The symposium- Can be found Wikipedia
Marxist theoretical framework.
The purpose of the paper is to articulate response to one point you have found to be subject to criticism.
The Symposium
The Symposium by Plato is essential not only for its literary value but also for its philosophical value. The story gives useful insights into the conduct of Greek Symposia. It is filled with remarkable interpretive remarks and provides figures and contexts on which people can reflect. More importantly, the most remarkable insight of the text is the ‘Theory of Forms’ and the different perspectives of love. The text makes useful suggestions on the origin of philosophy and love. It also offers guidance on how people thought back then and why.
The major theme of the symposium has to do with Plato’s perception of beauty and love. Plato notes in the text that true love cannot be obtained through physical pleasures but goes deeper to include the consumption of beauty and wisdom. The modern society has, however, diverted from Plato’s theory. Love in the modern society is demonstrated through physical pleasures and mostly through engagement to sexual intercourse. Many people in search of love are mostly attracted to the physical appearance of other people, and the decision of whether to get involved with them lies with whether they can obtain physical pleasure from the given person.
It’s in my thinking that Diotima gives the best interpretation of the term love. She claims that all human desires are not to be considered as love and that humans tend to associate the term with the desire that exists between two human beings. She notes that love is neither mortal nor immortal. Instead, she claims that love is a spirit that falls in the middle of a god and a human being. Love is a spirit, and she explains it serves as an intermediary between God and humans. Diotima argues that love is not beautiful good, but neither is it ugly or wrong. It is somewhere between the good and the bad. Diotima supports her claim in that love cannot be a god by arguing that love lacks what gods always possess, the good and the beautiful. More insight into Diotimas statement is obtainable by learning about the origin of love. Claims are that love’s father is a resource while the mother is poverty. Love, as a result, has numerous contrasting characteristics. On the right side, love is brave and seeks after wisdom while on the other hand, it is unfortunate and homeless. The description of beauty, as demonstrated by Diotima, is interesting as it explains the immense variables and characteristics of love. For some, love is known to be excellent and beautiful, brings pleasures and joy while for others, love is ugly and causes them immense pain and heartbreaks.
In regards to beauty, Diotima notes that beauty is the only form that without perspective. It is an intriguing view that if actual, would be instrumental in understanding the interest of human beings on the appearance of a person. Beauty has, in many instances, been associated good. Whatever is beautiful is considered to be good. Diotima agreed with Socrates that everyone wants what is good and happiness in their lives. The Platos theory is not applicable in modern society as the idea of beauty is always shifting. The modern world is experiencing an expansive where everybody is considered to be beautiful. Beauty in modern society lies in the eye of the beholder.
Obviously, Plato’s definition of love revolves around consuming as much wisdom as possible. The theory is interesting but would be hard to put across in the modern society. As the current world becomes more materially advanced, material goods and their significance in love are becoming more critical and therefore downplay Plato’s theory. In my thinking, I feel like the current society is operated more through tangible material forms than abstract ideas. The theory is, however, applicable in modern society because as people operate through tangible material forms, divorce rates are on the rise. The rise in divorce and separation rates in modern society implies that people are not seeking wisdom in love, and those material things cannot satisfy the deepest love desires in a person.
Ultimately, Platos concludes that the search for knowledge and wisdom is the most valuable journey in life. The text comes up with this conclusion through the character speeches which brings us closer to the truth and in the end, Platos combines the thoughts and brings together what he considers to be the definition of love. Plato considers love to rise through levels of closeness to the point of wisdom. He further views true beauty to rise from carnal attraction to an attraction of souls and finally to the truth.