Perhaps what strikes me the most about the Symposium is the parallel between the different views on love centuries ago and the differing views on love within my own generation. We have tree huggers that love the grass as much as their brother--defining love as a wholesome acceptance of all things surrounding them. We have those that see love as only feeling compassion toward those that love you in return--an earned love. And of course many more ideas to all moderations and extremes.
My favorite theory on love was Aristophanes' myth on how we were once twice the people we are now, but because we were a threat to the gods, Zeus cut us in half. We go around seeking to find this other half to complete ourselves. Interestingly, this idea is opposite of the Biblical view that man was created lonely, and that God realized his need for a helper and thus created women. What parallels between these two stories, though, is the idea that we are incomplete without love--another angle with which to analyze the completeness of our lives.
Lastly, I found Diotoma's view of love to be very narrow and not fully embodying love. Love, in my mind, is much more than seeking romance and knowledge. It is much more than seeking to better one's self, as Diotoma seems to make it sound. Rather, the greatest of love, and the love that emobodies all other loves that have been discussed throughout the Symposium [romantic, reproductive, orderly,etc.] is a love of sacrifice. A true love desires to produce children, wisdom, welfare, etc. not solely because of a desire to better one's self, but a desire to serve others--and in a situation of a relationship, that includes putting the other's welfare before your own. I believe this perfect demonstration of love was and is embodied by Jesus Christ and His sacrifice of life through love for all.
Overall, the Symposium was quite enjoyable--and though written long ago, still very much applies to our generation. After all, love transcends time.
My favorite theory on love was Aristophanes' myth on how we were once twice the people we are now, but because we were a threat to the gods, Zeus cut us in half. We go around seeking to find this other half to complete ourselves. Interestingly, this idea is opposite of the Biblical view that man was created lonely, and that God realized his need for a helper and thus created women. What parallels between these two stories, though, is the idea that we are incomplete without love--another angle with which to analyze the completeness of our lives.
Lastly, I found Diotoma's view of love to be very narrow and not fully embodying love. Love, in my mind, is much more than seeking romance and knowledge. It is much more than seeking to better one's self, as Diotoma seems to make it sound. Rather, the greatest of love, and the love that emobodies all other loves that have been discussed throughout the Symposium [romantic, reproductive, orderly,etc.] is a love of sacrifice. A true love desires to produce children, wisdom, welfare, etc. not solely because of a desire to better one's self, but a desire to serve others--and in a situation of a relationship, that includes putting the other's welfare before your own. I believe this perfect demonstration of love was and is embodied by Jesus Christ and His sacrifice of life through love for all.
Overall, the Symposium was quite enjoyable--and though written long ago, still very much applies to our generation. After all, love transcends time.