Athenian Nights

                 Symposium is the most illustrious and literary of the dialogues – my favorite one yet. It is chiefly concerned with a question that is of the utmost importance to all people in all ages – What is love? The reader is invited to view 6 different views on the topic, all of which have their strong points – although one view shines above the rest in regal splendor. We also learn quite a bit about Socrates in this dialogue. His usual humility, self-deprecation, and acknowledgment of his ignorance are present, but with one interesting addition. He says that even though he typically doesn’t think he knows anything – love is the ONE THING he does understand (177e). That should perk the reader’s ears up that Socrates view of love is something Plato probably felt very strongly about Indeed, once it is fleshed out it sheds light on his metaphysics and connecting the dots shows its indispensable character. A...

              Phaedrus is unlike any other dialogue in the narration and setting. It is the first one I’ve read that takes place in the countryside rather than in the city and we learn why. “I’m a lover of learning, and trees and open country won’t teach me anything whereas men in the town do” (230d).   This seems to be undercut when he rebukes Phaedrus for being too exclusivist in regard to who possesses truth. He tells him that the “first prophetic utterances came from an oak tree” (275b) and that simple people in the old days, who lacked the “wisdom” of the young were content to listen to trees and rocks. Like many people, I’m not sure what to make of this although I can see this own dichotomy in my experience. In this fallen world, tradeoffs are king, and we must always think hard to try to choose the greater good and the lesser evil. In the countryside you get peace, quiet, cleaner air and water, etc., but you a...