Symposium | Topics for Discussion & Projects

Symposium Topics for Discussion

Discuss dialogue. All six of the speakers have different views on what is love. Some sound very sincere while others, like Aristophanes' speech, are ironic and humorous. Does one have to choose which one of the explanations of love to believe, or are the explanations complementary? Socrates' speech sounds the most convincing, but does that contradict the other arguments?

Alcibiades feels that he has learned much and enjoys his association with Socrates. Then, why is he so resentful of Socrates? Does Alcibiades want to get Socrates' approval? Is he trying to control Socrates?

Greek society, to varying degrees, approves of relationships between men and boys around the age of puberty (age 12-15), including sexual activity. Does this make the discussion on what is love more difficult to understand? Does it seem to be a comical discussion or even a somewhat obscene...
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