The Symposium (Penguin Classics) - Plato

“The Symposium” is one of Plato’s most celebrated dialogues, blending philosophy, myth, and drama in a brilliant conversation about love (Eros). Set during an Athenian banquet, it presents a series of speeches by Socrates, Aristophanes, Alcibiades, and others, each offering a unique and thought-provoking view on the nature, purpose, and power of love.

This Penguin Classics edition delivers a lucid and literary translation ideal for both beginners and seasoned readers of philosophy. Rich in historical context and sparkling dialogue, The Symposium examines not only love between people, but also the soul’s yearning for truth, beauty, and the divine.

Main Themes of the Book

• The nature and evolution of love (Eros)
• Love as a path to immortality and philosophical truth
• Beauty, virtue, and the soul’s longing
• The role of gender and same-sex desire in classical thought
• The tension between physical and spiritual attraction

Reasons to Read this book from ''Penguin Classics'' series

• A foundational text in Western philosophy and aesthetics
• Features Socrates’ famous account of Diotima’s vision of love
• Essential for discussions on ethics, beauty, and desire
• Engaging narrative style—philosophy in the form of storytelling
• A must-read for students of classics, humanities, and literature

Plato’s “The Symposium” is not just a philosophical masterpiece—it’s a poetic and intellectually electrifying dialogue that asks what it means to love wisely and well. This edition is an essential guide to the roots of Western ideas about love, truth, and beauty.