In the development of philosophy, there have always been colossus on which the whole philosophical thought is based and from which knowledge and wisdom will always be drawn. One of these philosophers who give their wisdom to modern philosophy is Plato - one of the greatest thinkers of antiquity. Plato is a student of Socrates - another great representative of ancient philosophy. He inherits his knowledge, develops it to a higher level, so his views on the state and the law become one of the fundamental for the development of political science. Ancient philosophers have developed and accumulated their knowledge in a way that is very different from today, in a way that allows expression of personal opinion, of accumulated knowledge - this is the dialogue. Men and gods, human virtues, their divine origin are being discussed. Few were enlightened, able to "discuss" such issues and problems. "Symposium" dialogue is an example of such a "discussion". Also called "love dialogue", "praise for Eros," he discusses much deeper feelings about human relationships, the birth and development of love affection, and, of course, the consequences of such a feeling. Whether it is a problem or a theme - God Eros, the patron of the love feeling, the philosopher leaves us to solve.
Plato clearly puts the problems, expresses his views and draws conclusions through the words of the participants in the dialogue. This mode of presentation is too close to literary work than to philosophical. There is a topic here, there is an idea, there is a development. The whole event is rewritten, the interest in the event remains long after the years go by.
The action at the "Symposium" evolves in Agaton's home. Socrates and Aristotle are at dinner. Celebrate Agaton's Prize for his first tragedy. Typically, on such nights there is a topic of conversation, a subject of discussion. Eriximax puts the theme of the praise of Eros god - I suppose, a topic discussed and another time. Feder, Eriximax, Pavzani, Aristophanes. Each of them, in his words praises God Eros, gives his explanation of love, not its impact on man's behavior, his emotions and his soul. For example, Pavanzian - he proposes a distinction between Eros - elusive and heavenly. One of the lows, manifested in the people of the common people, and the second higher - the expression of the male principle.
And Feder - admired the power and sacrifice of men as a supreme manifestation of love between them. In this respect, he believes that Eros "has the greatest power that gives people virtue and happiness in life and death."
Discussing the topic, each of the participants gives their own explanations of the terms "beautiful", "ugly", "virtue".
Eriximax also expressed his opinion on the discussion. He discovers and justifies the vital, dual nature of Eros for the existence, development and improvement of medicine, music, astronomy. It shows how two opposing celestial and elusive Eros, in their unity and integrity, determine the power and majesty of the glorified God. Here he approaches Pavsani. Aristophan, expressing his opinion, justifies it with a myth revealing human nature. He tells of how three human clans existed - a male, a female and an androgen. Each of them was divided into two parts, it was a punishment from the gods for the audacity of the people. Thus the different varieties of love were obtained: love between man and woman, love between two women and love among men. This way, Aristophan gives a well-defined definition of love. It is based on his mythological narrative and, accordingly, bearing his oddness and abstraction. "This is the reason for these feelings - that our primordial nature was what I say, that we have been something complete." The thirst and the desire to restore that integrity has the name love. All thoughts and speeches are in one direction - praise Eros. But the logical end of the first part of the dialogue comes with Agaton's speech. Everyone unanimously announces Eros for the most perfect and blessed of the gods, possessing beauty, tenderness, prudence, courage and knowledge. His benefits in creating love for beautiful things also create the good for the gods and the people.
Looked at from our present times all sounds a little weird. First, the way the discussion is held, and second, the strange tolerance of those manifestations of love thousands of years ago. But, thinking about ignoring our modern pragmatic thinking, we can accept the idea of dominating the love of the spiritual over the love of the carnal. This is the wisdom of the ancient world, which has reached us today through the ages. Socrates' speech is entirely the second part of the dialogue. He exposes his opinion on the speeches of the forerunners who spoke it, about their desire to overcome all by the power of their word. He sets forth his antithesis, based on the story of the wise Diotium about the demonic nature of Eros, about his dual nature and behavior. According to Socrates, Eros is not an exalted deity. And all this he proves, develops his thoughts, reaches to his central conclusion that the connection between man and woman is birth, and it is a divine thing, and in the mortal being the immortal is conception and birth.