Plato's Symposium

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This time we will explore the topic of love by returning to a true classic. Symposium is one of Plato's most famous and influential dialogues, written around 385–370 BCE. It explores the nature of love (Eros) through a series of speeches by prominent Athenian men at a drinking party (symposium). The dialogue blends philosophy, drama, and myth, and is a foundational text in both philosophy and literature.

We read the whole text before the meetup and discuss it together. There are a number of translations available online and to buy. I will use the one linked below since its both free and modern, but feel free to use whichever one you prefer. https://www.platonicfoundation.org/translation/symposium/

For some historical context, the In Our Time podcast has an episode on Plato's Symposium that is an optional listen. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03mhyzk

We hope you join us to explore the concept of love together.