JMJ Marist Brothers

NOTRE DAME OF MARBEL UNIVERSITY

College of Arts and Sciences
Alunan Ave., City of Koronadal, South Cotabato 9506

Rex Bryann C. Zambra PHSC 104 Seminar on Plato/Aristotle

AB-PHILO 4
Plato’s Phaedrus
A Reaction Paper

Phaedrus, a young man who is eager to learn about the art of rhetoric, converse

in Plato's Phaedrus. Socrates and Phaedrus have a philosophical conversation about

the nature of love, beauty, and the art of rhetoric outside of Athens, near the Ilissus

riverbanks. The dialogue's main topic is rhetoric, which Plato sees as a dangerous tool

that can be used to control other people. Socrates argues that a genuine love of truth

and a commitment to living a virtuous life is the true sources of wisdom and knowledge,

not the manipulation of language. Socrates and Phaedrus discuss the role that desire

plays in human relationships and the significance of self-control and self-discipline in

achieving true happiness throughout the conversation.

The Phaedrus is also notable for its multilayered symbolism and intricate

structure, which includes allusions to the charioteer myth and the concept of the soul as

a winged creature. Scholars have spent centuries studying and interpreting The

Dialogue, which is frequently regarded as a work of exceptional literary and

philosophical beauty.

Eros, the god of love or desire, is referred to throughout the dialogue of Phaedrus

by Plato. Eros is portrayed as a potent force that inspires people to seek knowledge and

beauty. The nature of Eros and its connection to various aspects of human life are the
 JMJ Marist Brothers
NOTRE DAME OF MARBEL UNIVERSITY
College of Arts and Sciences
Alunan Ave., City of Koronadal, South Cotabato 9506

subject of the conversation. Socrates and Phaedrus debate the nature of love and the

connection between love and the human soul in the Phaedrus. They argue that love is

not just a desire for beauty and truth but also a physical attraction. The divine force

known as Eros is portrayed as a force that motivates people to seek out the highest

forms of beauty and knowledge. Additionally, Socrates distinguishes two types of love:

divine love (which seeks the beauty of the soul and the divine) and common love (which

is focused on physical desire). He argues that divine love is a higher form of love

because it seeks to connect with the eternal and divine rather than the limitations of the

physical world. Eros is also linked to the idea of inspiration throughout the conversation.

The idea is that Eros is the force that inspires a person to a state of divine possession

when they are inspired. According to Socrates, attaining true insight and wisdom

necessitates this state of inspiration. In general, the Phaedrus depicts Eros as a potent

force that inspires people to seek beauty, truth, and knowledge. It is a divine force that

motivates and directs people to reach their full potential.

Also in Phaedrus, The soul is compared to a chariot pulled by two horses in

Plato's "Phaedrus," with one horse representing our rational side and the other our

irrational side. In this metaphor, the two horses that drive the chariot represent the

human soul. Our rational side, which is capable of reason, logic, and self-control, is

represented by one horse. Our irrational side, which is motivated by passion, desire,

and emotion, is represented by the other horse. Controlling the two horses and keeping

them in harmony is the job of the charioteer, who represents the human mind. The soul
 JMJ Marist Brothers
NOTRE DAME OF MARBEL UNIVERSITY
College of Arts and Sciences
Alunan Ave., City of Koronadal, South Cotabato 9506

can achieve true knowledge and wisdom if the charioteer is successful in controlling

both horses. However, the soul will be dragged down by its passions and desires if the

charioteer fails to control the irrational horse, resulting in a life of chaos and confusion.

The struggle between reason and passion in human nature and the significance

of self-control are exemplified by Plato's metaphor of the soul as a chariot. As a means

of guiding the soul toward enlightenment and true wisdom, it also places an emphasis

on the significance of education and the pursuit of knowledge.