In this episode we unpack The Symposium by ancient Greek Philosopher Plato.

This dialogue explores...

* The Nature of Eros

*The Human desire for immortality

*The Guru Disciple Relationship

Free Pdf of The Symposium

*note* reading is not required to enjoy this episode!

Host: Zach Stehura  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠UnpackingIdeas.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Guest: Kilaya Ciriello Author of: Socrates Guru: Plato's Spiritual Philosophy in Comparison with the Indian Tradition

The Fundamentalist Plato (blog/substack)

Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Polyenso⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Timestamps

0:00:00 Introduction

0:02:42 Fundamentalist Platonism

0:06:15 The Tradition of The Symposium 

0:09:15 Narrative Structure of The Symposium

0:10:20 The Question of Plato’s Authorship

0:15:35 The Speech of Phaedrus

0:20:10 Historical Context of Pederastic Relationships Between Men and Boys

0:24:31 The Speech of Pausanias

0:28:18 The Speech of Eryximachus

0:31:49 The Speech of Aristophanes

0:38:10 The Speech of Agathon 

0:39:46 The Flattery & Humility of Socrates

0:43:25 The Significance of Diotima

0:46:28 Socrates First Argument on Eros

0:50:18 We Only Desire What we Lack

0:53:07 Love as an Intermediary between humans and Gods

0:57:43 The Pursuit of Immortality

1:06:08 Love of “The Good”

1:08:24 The Ladder of Love

1:13:49 Pure Rationality

1:16:24 Criticisms of The Ladder of Love

1:18:42 The Entrance of Alcibiades  

1:24:15 The Desire to Possess Another Person

1:27:42 Resentment towards Those Who Highlight our Shortcomings 

1:28:45 The Unlikely Chance one will succeed as a Philosopher

1:31:29 Wrapping up