Philosophy (reading) group Rotterdam: Platonic love Symposium and Phaeadrus
Details
Come and discuss one of the classics on love and rherorics, with the central question: What is love?
The most beautiful idea from the book, according to me, is Diotima's ladder of love, if you didn't have enough time to read the dialogue's:
The Rungs of the Ladder
- Love of a Single Beautiful Body The ascent begins in youth with a physical attraction to one specific person's outer comeliness, which inspires noble thoughts and discussions.
- Love of All Beautiful Bodies The lover realizes that physical beauty in one body is kindred to the beauty in all other bodies. This broader perspective softens the obsessive attachment to a single person, giving rise to an appreciation for physical grace in general.
- Love of Beautiful Souls and Minds The seeker elevates their vision beyond the physical realm, coming to value moral, spiritual, and intellectual character far more than outward appearance. At this stage, one loves a virtuous person even if their body lacks comeliness, generating ideas that help guide and improve the young.
- Love of Beautiful Laws and Institutions The focus expands from individual character to the broader social world. The lover sees the beauty in customs, laws, and moral institutions, recognizing that all forms of societal beauty share a common family.
- Love of the Beauty of Knowledge (The Sciences) Turning away from specific human affairs, the philosopher looks toward the "vast sea of beauty" found in various branches of knowledge, philosophy, and truth. Here, the mind generates veritably noble concepts in a boundless love of wisdom.
- Vision of Absolute Beauty (The Form of Beauty) At the summit of the ladder, the philosopher suddenly catches sight of Absolute Beauty (Autoto Kalon). This is not a physical shape, a word, or a specific science, but eternal, unchanging, pure, unalloyed, and perfect Beauty itself—the transcendent Form from which all physical and mental beauties derive their value.
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The Ultimate Purpose
Diotima explains that by gazing upon Absolute Beauty with the eye of the mind, a human being no longer creates mere "images" or shadows of virtue, but true, genuine virtue. Through this realization, the philosopher fulfills human destiny: gaining divine friendship and achieving true immortality.
Whether you're a seasoned philosophy lover or reading Plato for the very first time, this book promises a fascinating discussion on intimacy, friendship, and passion.
Want to have deep conversations on philosophy and life in good company, which always consist of at least one person with a good sense of humour? Then please join this reading group.
We aim at making this a kind and inclusive group, where everyone feels appreciated and warmly welcomed. No background knowledge or reading is obligatory; everyone is free to join and listen in or join the discussion we're having.
The purpose of this group is to delve into philosophical topics and classic and modern philosophers. Each month we read a book of a contemporary or old philosopher, which we dan delve into in an informal and accessible manner. As a philosopher I can guide these meetings if wanted or needed, but will do minimum lecturing, except if anyone feels like it.
A professor of mine said: 'Bring philosophy everywhere' and that is what I try to do, also to give away my philosophy degree for free to a group such as this.
I have more than a decade worth of teaching experience, which also consists in engaging in philosophical and Socratic dialogue in the university of applied sciences, highschool, primary school and in prison. I also used philosophy as a conversational tool in the field of social work in the past.
The events are free, but you can pay as you please, which would be much appreciated. I donate 10% of the revenue, as I do with all of my income, to effective charities that are recommended by the Effective Altruism Movement (see: https://www.effectivealtruism.org/).
You can send me a one-time donation on:
https://www.paypal.me/FBIJoeri
Or you can support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/filosofischbureauvoorinzichtsvergaring
For those that would like to see me speak about other philosophy stuff, see:
https://www.youtube.com/user/1986Joeri
For those that like to complement or replace their reading with audio-visual material, I will post these in the comments aforehand of the meeting.