Plato, the Other, and the Freedom to Love

Abstract

Plato's Symposium is divided into several speeches; two, by Aristophanes and Socrates, are considered here. These classic views on love extend into the modern era by way of philosophers such as Jean-Paul Sartre and Bertrand Russell. This essay examines their views and argues that modern ideas about love are similar to classic ideas on the topic. The main topics discussed relate to the identity struggle lovers engage in and the way in which love can inspire the intellect.