Finished Plato’s Symposium and will be moving on to Phaedrus, but I know that I would like to eventually get the book form (I’ve been reading it online) as it seems to be wanting of a more continual thinking on the premise of the place and meaning of love that indeed, may change in meaning as one changes with learning.
Of the speeches on love by those present at the discussion, one appears to build upon the other in exploring the forms of love, in separating the physical from the spiritual, the good from the disruptive, the purpose and the happiness it offers on a higher plane. It covers homosexual love, but in a way that I would think is elevating it to a place beyond the sexual attraction just as male/female love is disregarded for its baser instincts to focus on the friendship of love.
There are implications of love’s ability to go awry in its being sought for wrong purposes, and there is promise of its everlasting nature if understood and not abused. There is obviously much more here to read into Symposium, and I’m sure I’ll be rereading portions, especially as Socrates tells of his teaching by Diotima in the theory that ties in Boethius’ own concept of seeking good, along with the next reading of Phaedrus as things become more clear.
The Lost Children: A Charity Anthology