The Structure of the SYMPOSIUM

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The Order of Speakers in Praise of EROS

1. Phaedruss: EROS is the greatest god, because only for love will one man die for another

2. Pausanias: there are 2 varieties of love; the higher type urges the acceptance of another for the sake of ARETE and joins lover and beloved in eagerness to improve themselves

3. Eryximachus: the two sorts of love are not to be found in men only, but are the tension and driving force of the whole world

4. Aristophanes: the myth of primeval ANDROGYNOI. EROS is the instrument of reunion, completion, and satisfaction

5. Agathon: EROS is the fairest & best of the gods, creator of everything fair & good on earth

6. Socrates:
   • EROS is the love of something which the lover:
     • desires
     • lacks
     • seeks to possess in the future
   • therefore, EROS is neither beautiful nor good
   • the tale of DIOTIMA:
     • EROS is a mean
     • EROS is a DAIMON
     • the offspring of poverty & plenty, on the birthday of Aphrodite
     • EROS is a philosopher
   • all human beings desire & seek happiness [No justification seems to be required for this statement]
   • the varieties (the scale of) EROS
   • EROS as the desire for the everlasting possession of the good AGATHON
   • love of generation & birth in beauty
   • love of offspring for the sake of immortality
   • pregnant bodies & pregnant souls
   • the higher mysteries of EROS
     • Forms
     • Form of the Beautiful

7. Alcibiades: in (drunken) praise of seductive Socrates

revised September 23, 1996


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