Week 2: The first speeches
The speeches of Phaedrus and Pausanias (178a–185c).
How does a story about the origin of the universe (from primordial Chaos) explain the world as we experience it? Is it significant that Love (Eros) is one of the first gods to emerge from the primordial Chaos?
What do you think of Phaedrus’ view that “the best conceivable organization for a community or a battalion would be for it to consist of lovers and their boyfriends, since they would compete with one another in avoiding any kind of shameful act.” Consider in this connection, “Only lovers are prepared to sacrifice themselves – and this goes for women as well as men.”
What do you think of Pausanias’s distinction between “common” and “celestial” love between men and boys, favoring a lifelong relationship over a temporary one?
What do you think of Pausanias’s view that women are inappropriate objects of love because they are the “most unintelligent people imaginable”? What argument could be used to persuade Pausanias that women can be intelligent?
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