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Notes on David O'Connor's 1/24/07 Lecture, on the opening scene of Plato's Symposium for PHIL 20214

The Symposium, Phaedrus and Pausanias

I. Introducing The Symposium
 
                A. Plato and the dialogue
 
                B. Shelley’s translation
 

                C. “The limits of my language are the limits of my world”: aphrodisia vs. intercourse

 

II. A drinking party-with no drinking

                A. Agathon’s elegance
 
                B. Exclusion of Dionysus and Aphrodite
 

Pausanias: “I am not very well from the wine we drank last night and I have some need of intermission. I suspect that most of you are in the same condition, for you were here yesterday. Now, consider how we shall drink most easily and comfortably.” (The Symposium of Plato: The Shelley Translation, ed. David O’Connor, South Bend: St. Augustine’s Press, 2002: 176a-b) 

Aristophanes: “I was one of those who were drenched last night.” (Symposium 176b)

Eryximachus: “Since, then, it is decided that no one shall be compelled to drink more than he pleases, I think that we may as well send away the flute-player to play to herself; or, if she likes, to the women within. Let us devote the present occasion to conversation between ourselves.” (Symposium 176e)

                C. Greek pederasty
 
III. Phaedrus and Pausanias



Symposium Seating Arrangement
Copyright 2009, by the Contributing Authors. Cite/attribute Resource. O\'Connor, D. (2007, July 03). Session 4 Notes. Retrieved November 23, 2009, from Notre Dame OpenCourseWare Web site: http://ocw.nd.edu/philosophy/ancient-wisdom-modern-love/lecture-notes/session-4-notes. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License. Creative Commons License