What Does Plato Say About Love?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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The idea of romantic love initially stems from the Platonic tradition that love is a desire for beauty-a value that transcends the particularities of the physical body. For Plato,

the love of beauty culminates in the love of philosophy

, the subject that pursues the highest capacity of thinking.

What is Plato’s theory of love?

Platonic love, as devised by Plato,

concerns rising through levels of closeness to wisdom and true beauty, from carnal attraction to individual bodies to attraction to souls, and eventually, union with the truth

. Platonic love is contrasted with romantic love.

What does Plato say about the highest form of love?

In the Symposium, Plato presents

the love of wisdom

as the highest form of love and philosophy as a refinement of our sexual urges that leads us to desire wisdom over sex.

What does Plato say about soulmates?

According to Plato ‘Symposium’, “Love is a desire for beauty – a value that transcends the particularities of the physical body.” Plato’s idea about soulmates is “

[Each] one longed for its other half, and so they would throw their arms about each other, weaving themselves together, wanting to grow together

.” As per …

Where does Plato write about love?

Plato discusses love (

erôs

) and friendship (philia) primarily in two dialogues, the Lysis and the Symposium, though the Phaedrus also adds significantly to his views.

How does Aristotle define love?

Two points are clear from Aristotle’s definition of love. First, it is unequivocally and emphatically altruistic:

one wishes and acts to realize good things for the other’s sake

, in accord with what the other conceives of as good – reciprocally so in the case of friendship.

How does Phaedrus define love?

Phaedrus asserts that both gods and humans regard Love as great and awesome, for many reasons. As Love is the oldest, Phaedrus suggests,

he confers the greatest benefits

. … No young man could derive greater benefit than from a good lover, and no lover could derive greater benefit than from a young loved one.

What is the greatest form of love?

  • Agape (Ancient Greek ἀγάπη, agapē) is a Greco-Christian term referring to unconditional love, “the highest form of love, charity” and “the love of God for man and of man for God”. …
  • Within Christianity, agape is considered to be the love originating from God or Christ for humankind.

What is a stronger word for love?

OTHER WORDS FOR love

1

tenderness

, fondness, predilection, warmth, passion, adoration. 2 liking, inclination, regard, friendliness. 15 like. 16 adore, adulate, worship.

What are the 4 types of love?

  • Eros: erotic, passionate love.
  • Philia: love of friends and equals.
  • Storge: love of parents for children.
  • Agape: love of mankind.

What did Plato write about twin flames?

In the Symposium, Plato presents the theory as Aristophanes. He

explains the original humans had four arms, four legs, a single head with two faces, and two sets of genitalia

. These were the very original humans. They are what we now call Twin Flames.

Did Plato say love is a serious mental disease?

Plato said that

‘love is a grave mental disease

‘ and, if you’ve ever been in love you would probably agree with him.

Where did Plato write about soulmates?

In his famous book “The Symposium,” Plato detailed the history of soulmates told by the great

Greek theatre

and comedy writer, Aristophanes. He explained that God created two humans joined at the rear. These jointed humans were supposedly soulmates that had four legs, four arms, and two faces on each side of the head.

How do you explain romantic love?

Romance or romantic love is an emotional feeling of love for, or a strong attraction towards another person, and the courtship

behaviors

undertaken by an individual to express those overall feelings and resultant emotions.

What Socrates said about love?

Socrates states that, “

Love is the conciousness of a need for a good not yet acquired or possessed

.” In other words we want what we do not have, and at times cannot have. Love for Socrates is a superficial occurrence and only based on the things in life that seem to be pleasing to the eye.

What did Plato say about friendship?

They comprehend each other! For Plato, another fundamental virtue underlying friendship was

the virtue of temper and moderation

. For him, character (virtue) is the source and basis of personal friendship.

Leah Jackson
Author
Leah Jackson
Leah is a relationship coach with over 10 years of experience working with couples and individuals to improve their relationships. She holds a degree in psychology and has trained with leading relationship experts such as John Gottman and Esther Perel. Leah is passionate about helping people build strong, healthy relationships and providing practical advice to overcome common relationship challenges.