"A brilliant translation that gives new life to a classic. The introduction alone is worth the price of the text. Waterfield brings grace and style to the Symposium, brushing away the dust that pollutes the inferior, dead translations of the past."William McTaggart, Westminster College
"The translation is quite good, remaining faithful to the original while flowing smoothly for the modern reader."Ancient Philosophy"Waterfield's translation is scholarly, yet in touch with the ZEITGEIST. More accessible than its predecessors, students will benefit from the refreshingly new tone of the introduction and translation. The notes and the index of names also add a fresh level of usefulness and a measure of charm."Elf S. Raymond, Sarah Lawrence College"Great. Superb notes. Informative but not pedantic."Professor John R. Lenz, Drew University"[The] introductory material is lucid and well-chosen."Bryn Mawr Classical Review"I like full Intro., marginal ref. numbers, excellent notes, size, and comfortable binding."Madonna R. Adams, Pace University"Waterfield's editions in the World's Classics series are superlative. Lucidly translated, his notes of explanation are, additionally, useful both to novice and to scholar."Verna V. Gehring, Hood CollegeThe Symposium is a Socratic dialogue by Plato, dated c.¿385 - 370 BC. It depicts a friendly contest of extemporaneous speeches given by a group of notable Athenian men attending a banquet. The men include the philosopher Socrates, the general and statesman Alcibiades, and the comic playwright Aristophanes. The panegyrics are to be given in praise of Eros, the god of love and sex.
In the Symposium, Eros is recognized both as erotic lover and as a phenomenon capable of inspiring courage, valor, great deeds and works, and vanquishing man's natural fear of death. It is seen as transcending its earthly origins and attaining spiritual heights. The extraordinary elevation of the concept of love raises a question of whether some of the most extreme extents of meaning might be intended as humor or farce. Eros is almost always translated as "love," and the English word has its own varieties and ambiguities that provide additional challenges to the effort to understand the Eros of ancient Athens.
The dialogue is one of Plato's major works, and is appreciated for both its philosophical content and its literary qualities.
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Symposium
The Symposium is a Socratic dialogue by Plato, dated c.¿385 - 370 BC. It depicts a friendly contest of extemporaneous speeches given by a group of notable Athenian men attending a banquet. The men include the philosopher Socrates, the general and statesman Alcibiades, and the comic playwright Aristophanes. The panegyrics are to be given in praise of Eros, the god of love and sex.
In the Symposium, Eros is recognized both as erotic lover and as a phenomenon capable of inspiring courage, valor, great deeds and works, and vanquishing man's natural fear of death. It is seen as transcending its earthly origins and attaining spiritual heights. The extraordinary elevation of the concept of love raises a question of whether some of the most extreme extents of meaning might be intended as humor or farce. Eros is almost always translated as "love," and the English word has its own varieties and ambiguities that provide additional challenges to the effort to understand the Eros of ancient Athens.
The dialogue is one of Plato's major works, and is appreciated for both its philosophical content and its literary qualities.
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Product Details
BN ID: | 2940192691618 |
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Publisher: | Strelbytskyy Multimedia Publishing |
Publication date: | 05/17/2024 |
Edition description: | Unabridged |
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