Symposium (ePub)

Plato (circa 427-347 BCE) remains among the most pivotal figures in the development of Western philosophy. A disciple of Socrates and the mentor to Aristotle, Plato's work laid the foundational stones for Western political philosophy, epistemology, and ethics. Born into an aristocratic Athenian family, he was expected to take up a political career, but the execution of Socrates in 399 BCE profoundly affected Plato and steered him towards a life of philosophical inquiry. He founded the Academy, one of the earliest known organized schools in Western civilization, around 387 BCE, where he taught until his death.

Plato's works are typically structured as dialogues, where philosophical ideas are explored through conversations between characters, the most prominent of whom is often Socrates, serving as Plato's mouthpiece. 'Symposium,' one of his middle-period works, vividly encapsulates his literary and philosophical genius. This philosophical text delves into the nature of love through a series of speeches by attendees at a banquet, offering insights into human desire and the pursuit of beauty. Beyond its immediate subject matter, the 'Symposium' is lauded for its rich characterizations and its complex structure that mirrors the multi-layered understanding of love it seeks to convey. The philosophical contributions of Plato have been widely recognized and persist in their influence; his metaphysical and theoretical explorations have endured through centuries, making him a timeless beacon in intellectual history.