Plato's dialogue, the Symposium (part 1) - Introduction to Philosophy

[@meghanmcdonnell390]

i just wanted to say thank you, your videos have made my philosophy 101 class so much easier to understand and enjoy. doing online classes is hard, i feel like i would really benefit from sitting in on lectures like this but your videos make up for me not being able to experience that in real life. i’m so happy to see you are still posting, thank you for being passionate about teaching

[@GregoryBSadler]

I'm glad the videos have been useful for you as you work through your online classes!

[@GregoryBSadler]

New video from the Intro class today. Two more on this classic Platonic dialogue coming next week

[@dlbl27]

I have been learning Greek for over a year (partly inspired by my long love of philosophy that you aided in creating) and just read Xenophon’s Symposium in the original. I always come back to these videos in addition to reading. Thanks for all your work

[@GregoryBSadler]

You're very welcome

[@galshaviner7724]

I'm so happy that I found your channel, thank you very much, I'm going to spend a lot of my time in here

[@asteijk]

Thank you for keeping the greeks, some of us need it from time to time

[@GregoryBSadler]

I keep all sorts.

[@sherlockholmeslives.1605]

When I was 18 years old I thought that the philosophy of Plato was about how certain objects can be no longer real in the real sense. I came to this conclusion because of a film 'The Chain' about moving houses in London, where a guy studying philosophy say that when we moves these people out to Hammersmith these people's houses are no longer real in the real sense. So I thought a glove when it is no longer on someone's hand is no longer real in the real sense, it is alienated from its proper purpose. So seeing discarded objects around me, as a gardener at a disabled people's home, that were alienated from their proper purpose, a kettle for watering plants with, an empty beer glass on a potting room shelf and a glove in a wheelbarrow, being bored and lonely I thought people were having fun with me using Plato's philosophy, and I wanted to be a part of the fun, so I mentioned Plato and I got given the blame for intruding into someone's sex life.

[@mb9607]

Honestly thank you so much for posting these, I am reading The Symposium and your explanations really clarifies the different concepts. It was the first time that I read some Plato and I was really surprised of how much ancient greeks intellectuals and philosopher always talk about gods and hold them so important, it confuses me sometimes.

[@GregoryBSadler]

mb9607 You'll find that among nearly all ancient peoples. Secularism in culture is actually the exception, historically speaking

[@GregoryBSadler]

They are indeed great works -- there's another "love" themed one as well, which doesn't seem so at first, but which really is -- the Lysis, which we covered just before the Symposium in this semester's class. We'll likely read Phaedrus next semester, as I continue the theme through my Intro class

[@JCloyd-ys1fm]

Having the context for texts like this is really helpful. Much thanks.

[@GregoryBSadler]

You're very welcome!

[@Arafat-my6fe]

I m very grateful to you. You have made my read easier. Your explanations of historical contexts are of great help to understand these classic texts. Thanks a ton.

[@GregoryBSadler]

You're very welcome!

[@UKMark1977]

Really enjoy these videos. Great that you are able to flesh it out with historical knowledge of the characters and Athenian culture, really helps to bring the dialogues to life.

[@GregoryBSadler]

Glad you enjoyed the sequence. I tend to think that with this dialogue in particular, one has to have the background, or a lot of points get missed

[@GregoryBSadler]

Glad to read that, and that the videos are useful for you!

[@pinva123]

I find Aristophanes speech on love quite beautiful. Definitely a romantic context of looking at some sort of objectivity of love, but god, it is beautiful. Then again, this may be my ignorance as a 16 year old. The Symposium is such a profound intellectual achievement. In addition, your videos are really great and helpful to understand philosophy btw :)))!!

[@GregoryBSadler]

Glad you enjoy the videos, and Plato's imitation of Aristophanes

[@magl2393]

Thank you for the video! :) Classes haven't started yet but I have to read this for the 2nd week of class. It's pretty boring going through it myself so I like to watch videos. I really appreciate the video and you're a great lecturer!

[@GregoryBSadler]

Glad that you enjoy the lectures -- I hope they help you get into the book itself more

[@Anekantavad]

I find the dialogues of Plato tough going. I love the content, but the format doesn't seem to work for me. Commentaries are the usual way I come at these things, and this one is excellent.

[@GregoryBSadler]

Glad you found this useful.

[@GregoryBSadler]

You mean posting the reading list for the class I'm currently teaching? I think that's feasible. Most of what I teach is from texts publicly available online.

[@Thesp88]

I tried reading the symposium but I found it really hard to get some momentum going , this gripped me from the start and helped me with narrative of the story . Thanks

[@GregoryBSadler]

Glad it was useful for you

[@thedailynonsense1339]

I like this discussion a lot, this is perfect for listening to while traveling or doing other things! One thing you might try is investing in a lapel microphone to make this audio crystal clear and very even!

[@GregoryBSadler]

You realize that this was uploaded in 2013. . .

[@exposingtruth600]

Just finished reading “The symposium” very interesting read

[@GregoryBSadler]

And an even more interesting reread

[@AceH1gh1]

I lol'd at the thought of Socrates turning up with a 6-pack of buds.

[@GregoryBSadler]

I do not have any lectures on pre-Socratics at present

[@GregoryBSadler]

You're welcome!

[@hewfhweofanemi616]

why does socrates in the dialogue with Agathon do this? He first says that if you want something, you dont already have it(1) ; then, if you want something that you already have, you want to keep having it in the future(2). He then goes on to say that (1)=(2) and then somehow,(1)=(2) means that someone who loves and wants something, doesn’t already have it( so basically he just said the first thing again) and then goes on to use this to prove his theories. Pleasee, if you have the time, tell me what i’m missing or if that’s really how it is. Thanks.

[@GregoryBSadler]

Did you watch the videos that actually discuss that part of the text?

[@k2xxbox]

Great video. Feels like im in the classroom

[@GregoryBSadler]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@robertshogarth]

Brides Maids is a great movie! Great lecture

[@GregoryBSadler]

Robert Hogarth Thanks!

[@JSON_bourne]

philosophy and always sunny! too good to be true.

[@GregoryBSadler]

Yes, though I have to admit, I've bot followed it for several seasons. I'm looking forward to one day getting to catch up on watching it

[@franklinfalco9069]

I can understand how Plato would be disillusioned with democracy after Socrates was executed by the Athenian government, but democracy may have been what helped the philosophers to think freely in the first place. Some of his criticisms of direct democracy may not be applicable to representative democracy, but they all offer valuable insights into improving any system of government. A democratic leader can also be a philosopher.

[@GregoryBSadler]

+Franklin Falco Yep, a long-ago noted issue in Plato's work

[@jonasnunes7931]

I myself really apreciate this presentation.It's useful.. Althought I have one question, So, How many genres are in the Symposium and describe it? I doubt about these genres when I red one of the Plato's Writting (PLATO'S DIALECTIC AT PLAY) BY KEVIN CORRIGAN and ELENA GLAZOV-CORRIGAN. Hope that You will help me. THANKS A LOT!

[@GregoryBSadler]

You can reread the text easily enough and answer your own question, I think

[@jonasnunes7931]

Yes, Finnaly I found that there are seven. But may You help me to find it and describe it out to me? Because I don't able to identify each one. Thankyou Sir.

[@GregoryBSadler]

@@jonasnunes7931 Here's my page for tutorial sessions -reasonio.wordpress.com/tutorials/

[@swatighosh5589]

Good video . Helps learning

[@GregoryBSadler]

Glad to read it

[@Mhmgrams]

whats his idea of "the good"

[@Taliesin_McKnight]

This is excellent. Thank you.

[@GregoryBSadler]

You're very welcome!

[@AdvShafranSaeed]

Love Your Teaching Method (Y)

[@GregoryBSadler]

Thanks!

[@GregoryBSadler]

It depends on what sort of thing you're looking for

[@AdvShafranSaeed]

Gregory B. Sadler I am not a student of philosophy or something like that i just take your lectures for fun and knowledge ... Can You Give me Names of Some Specific books ?

[@AdvShafranSaeed]

Gregory B. Sadler Any Book from your favourites list ..

[@GregoryBSadler]

Shafran Saeed Eventually, I'm planning on doing some videos about that sort of list

[@ansarallahi]

nice body warmer in this one

[@GregoryBSadler]

We call it a vest, usually. . .

[@nickgebhardt4863]

Gregory B. Sadler *sweater vest*

[@vladimirsemenov1247]

Логика платоновского «Парменида» samlib.ru/s/semenow_w_w/05-1.shtml

[@philipagtuca5486]

I didn't know Steven Seagal now teaches Philosophy .

[@GregoryBSadler]

He doesn't. Your joke is about 5 years late

[@sherlockholmeslives.1605]

I didn't intrude into that woman's sex life! I was obviously set up.

[@nickilovesdogs8137]

Go vegan.