Symposium

Background Information on the Symposium

Greek Pederasty (erastes, eromenos)

Dramatic Setting/Dramatic Structure

Learning as contact (175d-e)
Praise of Eros (encomium, anthropomorphism)

Phaedrus’ Speech (generation, improvement)

Pausanias’ Speech (“common and heavenly Aphrodite,” betterment of one’s soul)

Eryximachus’ Speech (eros as a general force)

Aristophanes’ Speech (eros as lack)

Agathon’s Speech

Agathon and Socrates

Socrates’ Account of Diotima’s Understanding of Eros

Nature of Eros
Function of eros (‘to use beauty to beget and bear offspring,’ 206e)
Ladder of Love/Ascent to the Form of Beauty

Alcibiades’ Entrance and Speech (encomium of Socrates)

Socrates and Plato