Symposium Audiobook

" Penguin's "Great Ideas" series is itself a great idea. Some of the best of what has been thought and said presented in compact, portable, readable translations. Plato's Symposium presents the concept of "Platonic love," and this volume also includes the "Allegory of the Cave" extracted from Plato's Republic. "

" Had to read it for college, fell asleep often, but the discussions after were bombastic and pretentious (in the way only a group of eighteen-year-olds can be) and totally fun. "

" How do you know if you're in love if you can't define it? Read on. "

" i love the idea of forms, must re-read to remember why i was so moved by this "

" Enjoyed Aristophanes' speech, didn't particularly care for the others. "

" Is this the first version of "what would happen if x, y, and z were at a dinner party together..."? Good stuff. "

" I liked it and his thoughts on the love/beauty/immortality train of reasoning. I would also like to add that college parties should look more like this. "

" Aristophanes' speech is super awesome! SUPER AWESOME! "

" Not the best of Plato, but interesting "

" meraviglia allo stato puro- per ossigenare il cervello. "

" There is so much truth in such a little book. "

" Love is knowledge, knowledge is love. Don't gimme no physical and emotional distractions now "

" One of my favorites; a must read. "

" Probably one of the best books I've read. Worth it for Diotima's speech alone; blew me away, as I've had those sort of thoughts before. Alcibiades' entrance made me literally laugh out loud. Excellent. "

" This is a great book and excellent commentary. "

" Truth comes, they say, from wine and children, so it is only fitting that Plato's discussion of Love, one that remains even to this day, should take the setting of a drinking party. A funny, intriguing and insightful look at the core issue of the human condition. "

" This one is harder to digest, but some lines on love by Socrtaes (well, his character at least) are just so damn true. "

" Where the phrase "Platonic love" came from. Contains some of the most well-known ideas & arguments in classical Greek philosophy. I read the free Benjamin Jowett translation, & it's also sort of interesting to see how a Victorian attempted to "explain away" certain stuff in his "introduction". "

" Good ole' philosophy of sexual relations and Greek ideas of love. "

" This is one of my favourite books in the world. I particularly love this translation. "

" Read it and read it again and reread it and than start again. The best from Plato. "

" I absolutely loved reading this work. The social atmosphere in which these ideas were delivered was charming, good-humored, and somewhat enchanting. Friendly words and serious discussion, respects and acknowledgement are paid to Love. "

" I love the part about "giving birth in beauty" and the explanation of hetero- and homosexuality. "

" The two translations I compared were close enough that I think I get the gist of the arguments. Not too compelling as philosophy in the context of centuries of available texts working the subjects from every conceivable angle. But highly entertaining as a historic capsule of a unique social scene. "

" incredible writing, really makes you think "

" What is love? Well, it usually doesn't involve women, that's for sure. "

" Very accessible translation, which still retains the beauty of the work. Good introduction, raising the appropriate questions without overwhelming a new reader. The notes at the end of the book are adequate for the everyman reader. "

" Good stuff, makes me think. "

" Not the best of the dialogues, Plato and friends talk about love in both dialogues and don't really come to any good conclusions in either. By "good" I mean well thought or relevant. Probably not the best edition either. I don't recommend it. "

" It's philosophy...need I write more "

" this was my first introduction to the Greeks and i was hooked. the symposium is actually quoted a lot in all kinds of literature. i love Aristophanes commentary on the nature of love. "

" I read this in a great class all about Ancient Greek Eroticism. I loved it. "

" Platón, y dos bellos "diálogos" sobre el amor y la belleza. Plásticamente preciosos, hay que profundizar en su lectura... "