Diotima, Plato, and the Dialectics of Love

In Plato’s Symposium, when challenged to praise Eros, the god of Love, Socrates tells the story of Diotima, a prophetess who had initiated him into the ways of Love. She argues that the proper pursuit of Love is not earthly objects but wisdom. The beauty that we experience beholding a beloved person or object attunes us to the possibility of experiencing a more transcendent beauty.

Like the Prisoners in the cave, Lovers must ascend a dialectical process that moves from sensible particulars to intelligible universals.
Join us for the discussion on Plato, philosophy, and love. All are welcome and no reading is required!

Optional: Listen to Diotima’s speech from Symposium here.