Paiderastia Research Paper

Athens, Greece, was considered a cultural, political, and philosophical hub of the known world during the Classical Period of Greece, which stemmed from 508 BC-322 BC. Several notable Philosophers rose to fame and notoriety in this time period, including Socrates, one of the founders of modern western philosophy. Socrates was born in 470 BC and would go on to have several notable students, including Plato, who was born in 428 BC. Socrates frequently found himself to be a lightning rod for controversy, due to his annoying behavior and tendency to speak out against normal social institutions in Athens. Paiderastia was one of the Athenian social institutions Socrates publicly spoke out against. Paiderastia was a loving sexual relationship between a man and prepubescent boy. The older man acted as the dominant sexual partner, while the boy acted as the passive sexual partner. Throughout the course of the relationship, the man taught the boy how to properly act and behave as a man in Athens. Socially, the relationship was not viewed as modern …show more content…
Alcibiades, an older boy teetering on the edge of the acceptable age for a boy in a Paiderastia relationship, desperately wanted Socrates to take him in. Alcibiades was arrogant, as he was well aware of the fact that he was one of the most sought after young men in Athens. However, Socrates, the one man he wanted to take him on, rejected him. Socrates, an opponent of the idea of Paiderastia, was just as well aware of the value of his intellect as Alcibiades was of the value of his attractiveness. Alcibiades believed that Socrates, who wasn’t considered physically attractive by ancient Athenian standards, would be an easy catch. However, Socrates stuck to his values and rejected Alciades’ advances, as he believed it would be foolish to “exchange bronze for gold”. In his metaphor, Socrates’ knowledge is gold, and Alciades’ beauty is