In Plato’s Symposium, multiple philosophical thinkers discuss, argue and critique the abstract concept of love and eros. Each thinker had their own fascinating way of describing this phenomenon, but two philosophers- Aristophanes and Diotima- sparked more questions and arguments than any others. Aristophanes was a famously known comical poet in the ancient times and Diotima was a woman who Socrates claimed to met years back who passed on her wisdom on the subject of love. Although both speeches are completely different in style, tone and context, both Aristophanes and Diotima essentially build off of each other’s ideas. Aristophanes's speech focuses on love being a desire for wholeness and instead of refuting this, Diotima criticizes this
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His speech focuses on human nature and a mythical way of how love is a desire to find each person’s “other half.” Aristophanes says that long ago there were three types of humans: male, female and androgynous- both male and female. They were round shaped, had four hands and legs, two faces, two sets of sexual organs and were extremely fast and strong (189E-190B). Because of their strength and plans on attacking the gods, Zeus decided to cut them in half making them weak and longing for their other half. Aristophanes describes this longing and desire for the other half as what the lover wants from love- a desire to be complete. In discussing this craving for one’s half, Aristophanes contrasts Eryximachus’ speech and brings the conversation back to describing love in a more interpersonal way. In finding one’s other half and essentially true love, they can depend on one another and belong to one another (192C). Aristophanes describes this desire by mentioning that, “Love is born into every human being; it calls back the halves of our original nature together” (191D). Instead of assuming love is an abstract means to an end, Aristophanes speaks about love in a more intimate way but by failing to describe the feelings that humans have when they are finally whole, he leads the way for Diotima’s speech
His speech focuses on human nature and a mythical way of how love is a desire to find each person’s “other half.” Aristophanes says that long ago there were three types of humans: male, female and androgynous- both male and female. They were round shaped, had four hands and legs, two faces, two sets of sexual organs and were extremely fast and strong (189E-190B). Because of their strength and plans on attacking the gods, Zeus decided to cut them in half making them weak and longing for their other half. Aristophanes describes this longing and desire for the other half as what the lover wants from love- a desire to be complete. In discussing this craving for one’s half, Aristophanes contrasts Eryximachus’ speech and brings the conversation back to describing love in a more interpersonal way. In finding one’s other half and essentially true love, they can depend on one another and belong to one another (192C). Aristophanes describes this desire by mentioning that, “Love is born into every human being; it calls back the halves of our original nature together” (191D). Instead of assuming love is an abstract means to an end, Aristophanes speaks about love in a more intimate way but by failing to describe the feelings that humans have when they are finally whole, he leads the way for Diotima’s speech