Plato, Symposium | Love as a Desire for Lost Unity (Aristophanes' Speech) | Philosophy Core Concepts

Summary

In this educational video, Dr. Gregory Sadler explores the allegory of Aristophanes from Plato's Symposium, explaining the myth of original humans who were split in two by Zeus. These beings, now incomplete, seek their other half to regain unity, symbolizing the true nature of love as a desire for wholeness and companionship beyond just sexual union.

Takeaways

• 🎓 Dr. Gregory Sadler is a professor of philosophy and founder of Reason IO, an educational consulting company.
• 📚 He has over 20 years of experience in studying and teaching philosophy, aiming to make complex concepts accessible.
• 📹 He produces educational videos on YouTube, including a series of short videos focused on core philosophical concepts.
• 🤔 Aristophanes, a comic playwright, is discussed as a contributor to the Symposium with a comedic and allegorical tale about love and desire.
• 🧬 The original state of humankind is described as having two faces, four arms, and four legs, which was altered by Zeus to reduce their power.
• ⚡ Zeus' solution to human hubris was to split humans in half, creating a need for unity and a desire for their 'other half'.
• 🔄 The split humans are not just seeking companionship but are attempting to restore their original, complete state.
• 👥 Aristophanes' myth suggests that love is not about becoming one but rather about restoring a previous unity.
• 💔 If a person's 'other half' dies, they will seek others similar to their original half, but it will not be a perfect unity.
• ❤️ The ultimate desire of lovers, according to the myth, is not just sexual union but a complete fusion into one being.
• 🤔 The story is an allegory for a deeper truth about the nature of love and human relationships.

Q & A

Who is Dr. Gregory Sadler?

Dr. Gregory Sadler is a professor of philosophy and the president and founder of an educational consulting company called Reason IO. He has studied and taught philosophy for over 20 years.

What is the purpose of Reason IO?

Reason IO aims to put philosophy into practice and help students and lifelong learners understand classic philosophical texts.

What is the format of the new series of videos by Dr. Sadler?

The new series of videos by Dr. Sadler consists of shorter videos, each focused on one core concept from an important philosophical text.

Who is Aristophanes and what is his contribution to the Symposium?

Aristophanes is a comic playwright known for his work in Old Comedy in ancient Athens. His contribution to the Symposium is a comedic tale that has allegorical significance and reveals the true nature of love, desire, and the human condition.

What was the original state of human beings according to Aristophanes' story?

In Aristophanes' story, the original state of human beings was having one head, two faces, four arms, and four legs.

Why did Zeus decide to split the original humans?

Zeus decided to split the original humans because they were becoming too powerful and were causing trouble for the gods.

What was the result of Zeus splitting the original humans?

After being split, the original humans became two separate beings with one face, two arms, and two legs each, and they were less powerful than before.

What is the significance of the creatures looking for their other half?

The creatures looking for their other half signifies a desire for unity and completeness, as they were originally one being before being split.

What were the three sexes mentioned by Aristophanes?

Aristophanes mentioned three sexes: one with two female sets of genitals, one with two male sets, and one with one of each.

What is the main point of Aristophanes' allegory about love?

The main point of Aristophanes' allegory is that love is a desire for unity and wholeness, not just sexual union, but also for intimacy, companionship, and a shared life.

How does Aristophanes' story relate to the concept of a soulmate?

Aristophanes' story suggests that the concept of a soulmate is not about two single beings becoming one, but rather about two beings being restored to their original unity.