Episode 138, Plato's Symposium (Part I - The Hangover)

The Panpsycast Philosophy Podcast

Jack Symes | Andrew Horton, Oliver Marley, and Rose de Castellane

Euthanasia, Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Existentialism, Marxism, Kant, Ethics, Davidpapineau, Dennett, Marx, Evilgodchallenge, Cosmological, Mind, Consciousness, Courses, Nagasawa, Education, Johnstuartmill, Jeremybentham, Aristotle, Ocr, Camus, Josephfletcher, Conscience, Society & Culture, Kantianethics, Philosophy

4.8 • 604 Ratings

🗓️ 29 December 2024

⏱️ 56 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

A Christmas party is where humanity’s deepest truths can be revealed. It’s a space where profound questions like "How much gravy is too much gravy?" “What is partridge doing in a pear tree?” mingle seamlessly with "What is the meaning of life?" The very act of gathering to celebrate is a tribute to our existential longing for connection, love, joy, and embarrassing drunken dance moves. Plato might have envisioned it as a quest for wisdom, but let’s be honest, sometimes the real enlightenment happens while debating who gets the last Brussels sprout.

Today, we're stepping into one of the most intriguing parties in philosophy — Plato’s Symposium. A gathering of Ancient Athens’ most brilliant minds, lounging on couches, wine flowing freely, engaging in an intense yet playful exchange about the nature of love. But make no mistake, this is no ordinary party. Hosted at the home of the tragic playwright Agathon, this gathering is filled with laughter, drama and impassioned speeches. A celebration of intellect and pleasure, a blend of wit, wisdom, and revelry. As the night goes on, the conversation turns from the playful to the profound. What insights do our guests discover? What, indeed, is love? So, grab a seat at the table—because in Plato’s Symposium, the ideas are nearly as intoxicating … as the wine.

Note

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Links

Plato, The Symposium (pdf)

Thomas Cooksey, Plato’s Symposium: A Reader’s Guide (book)

Gregory D. Sadler, Plato’s Symposium (YouTube lectures)

Allan Bloom and Seth Benardete, Commentaries on Plato’s Symposium (book)

Pierre Destrée and Zina Giannopoulou, Plato's Symposium A Critical Guide (book)

Transcript

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0:00.0	At Christmas parties where humanity's deepest truths can be reviewed.
0:12.0	It's a space where profound questions like how much gravy is too much gravy, what is a partridge doing in a pear tree,
0:19.0	mingles seamlessly with questions like what is the meaning of life?
0:22.6	The very act of gathering to celebrate is a tribute to our existential longing for connection, love, joy and embarrassing drunken dance moves.
0:31.6	Plato might have envisioned it as a quest for wisdom. Let's be honest, sometimes the real enlightenment happens
0:37.8	while debating who gets the last prussal sprang. Today, we're stepping into one of the most
0:42.3	intriguing parties in philosophy, Plato Symposium, a gathering of ancient Athens'
0:47.3	most brilliant minds, lounging on couches, wine flowing freely, engaging in an intense yet
0:53.3	playful exchange about the nature of love.
0:56.3	But make no mistake, this is no ordinary party.
0:59.5	Hosted at the home of the tragic playwright Agathon,
1:02.2	this gathering is filled with laughter, drama and impassioned speeches,
1:06.0	a celebration of the intellect and pleasure, a blend of wit, wisdom and revelry. As the night goes on,
1:12.2	the conversation turns from the playful to the profound. What insights do our guests discover?
1:17.1	What indeed is love? So grab a seat at the table, because in Plato's symposium, the ideas
1:23.1	are nearly as intoxicated as the wine.
1:48.6	Greetings, fellow seekers of wisdom, and welcome to episode 138 of the panpsychast,
1:53.9	one half of a harmonious hole. I'm Jack Symes, and I'm delighted to be joined once again by the philosopher catching a glimpse of pure beauty. It's Rose de Castellan.
1:58.9	Hello.
1:59.7	Embodying the essence of love. It's John Hawkins.
2:03.0	Hello.
2:04.1	Reproducing in the hope of achieving immortality, it's Mr. Andrew Horton.
	...

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