| Plato sets The Symposium in 416 B.C. Agathon---a playwright---won the tragedy competitions held in Athens a day earlier. To celebrate, Agathon invites some of his friends, most notably Socrates, for a banquet. After dining, the host and his guests take turns delivering speeches in praise of the god, Eros. Through these speeches, Plato conveys his own understanding of Eros. Erotic desire consists of two opposing urges. The first is a longing to feel closer to the object of one's love. A lover strives to achieve intimacy by diminishing the emotional distance between himself and his beloved. Second, a lover desires to express his love to his beloved. In doing so, he asserts his individuality from his beloved, emphasizing the distinction between the two. The lover is most able to satisfy Eros if he gains awareness of the two urges within himself. The art of tragedy portrays the two contradictory desires. However, because the experience of watching tragedy is emotionally overwhelming, it is difficult for the audience to recognize objectively the opposing longings illustrated by this art. The comedian satirizes tragedy. In so doing, he makes it easier for the audience to recognize consciously these conflicting erotic urges. A philosopher discovers the erotic longings portrayed through the satire. This insight helps the philosopher pursue truth---the object of his Eros. Beholding the highest truths---the Platonic Ideas---largely fulfills the philosopher's contradictory erotic longings. The philosopher sees the Ideas better than do all others. He devotes himself entirely to discovering truth.;Consequently, he contributes little to the good of his community. He indulges his philosophic interests at the expense of meeting his social or political responsibilities. While the philosopher acts unjustly in this respect, he commits himself to the activity that is best for man's soul---philosophy. There are many others who are as useless to the community as is the philosopher, but do not have the talent or discipline to pursue truth with his singular focus. The political lesson of The Symposium is that men who are unable to concentrate their Eros only on seeking the truth have an even greater moral obligation than does the philosopher to give to the common good. |
