Plato's dialogue, the Symposium (part 3) - Introduction to Philosophy

[@GregoryBSadler]

We finish up the Symposium, now discussing Socrates' and Alcibiades' portions of the discourse

[@DrCornelDardenJr]

One of my favorite dialogues.

[@GregoryBSadler]

Yes, mine as well -- and once they've gotten past some of the cultural differences and the Oxfordy translation, the students generally respond to it quite well

[@GregoryBSadler]

Hmm -- Socrates does talk with Agathon a bit before going into his speech. But most likely I mixed up the names -- I'm not always entirely awake during these morning classes, depending on what the night before was like

[@dav__71]

Hi ! Thanks for these lectures. I'd have no way of learning in the sense of higher level lectures to inform my reading without these videos ! Much thanks 👍👍👍

[@GregoryBSadler]

You're very welcome! If you'd like to support the ongoing work I do, here's my Patreon site - patreon.com/sadler

[@agrisozols7725]

Thank you for shearing your lectures on great works in history of philosophy. It is educational on highest level and although entertaining. From my perspective it is very good form to improve my English skills in depth of highest thoughts.

[@GregoryBSadler]

You're very welcome. I'm glad you find it covers that spectrum -- tough to be both informative and engaging. I'm actually not really sure how that ends up happening, but I'll take it

[@chrome9879]

I know this may not be the place to leave such a drawn-out response to your symposium series, however, the last three lectures have sparked a lot of reflection, and if you were my prof, I would definitely find myself at your office hours. I know most questions require us to provide our own answers, but after trialling your three lectures and seeing how insightful you are, I desire to know your opinion. A question on the lectures and the text is: In the text I have, there is an emphasis on certain events, such as love or understanding (I believe) happening "all of a sudden." Would it be incorrect to interpret love as an experience that cannot be actively willed, as it being a passive, almost mystical experience, that occurs largely through detachment? If Socrates understands the art of love (ta erotika), is that a product of his detached character/soul/personality? How important is detachment in facilitating love/the Beautiful Itself? I plan on attempting a close reading of the text and am curious if I am going astray with this. I want to say that after having studied philosophy for a couple of years in person, the quality of your lectures far surpasses what I have received. I go to a larger state-esque school in Canada and would love to have the opportunity to attend a smaller liberal arts school, so thank you for providing me with this opportunity and supplement. After getting an honest trial of your lectures, I will be turning to support you on Patreon because you provide an immense amount of value at a fraction of a cost. Keep up the great work!

[@GregoryBSadler]

Glad the videos sere useful for you. I've got about 200+ more, organized into playlists

[@TheLoving1004]

i love the way you teach! omg i wish you were my professor! thank you for the wonderful examples and i will be expecting more videos from you! thank you!!

[@kevinsavard9097]

All good, at the beginning you said Agathon instead of Alcibiades. Constructive thats all, I l enjoy your work.

[@GregoryBSadler]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed the video, and the examples

[@ismaelspechtintuition3519]

Thanks for the great class Professor.

[@GregoryBSadler]

You're welcome!

[@PhillipCamera]

Spot on man great examples philosophy is such a open minded class.

[@GregoryBSadler]

You're very welcome

[@kevinsavard9097]

Thank you, helped alot and enjoyed your examples.

[@GregoryBSadler]

At which point? Did I misspeak? Easy to do when teaching a class in the morning

[@TheGamerFrom]

Your lectures are really helpful Mr. Sadler, thank you for uploading! At 16:05 you mentioned a study that seemed very interesting. Do you know where I could read more about it?

[@todoroki]

This is awesome and it must be great fun teaching this. On a related note, somewhere on youtube you can find a lecture by Pierre Grimes on the mythological aspects of the Diotima speech which is absolutely worth checking out.

[@GregoryBSadler]

Yes, it's a great text to teach and discuss!

[@ailishbethd4033]

Hi Dr Sadler, I love your work and am a huge fan of yours! I have some questions concerning the difference between 'agape' and 'eros': does the term 'agape' appear in 'The Symposium'? Or does it appear anywhere else in Plato's dialogues? If not, which Ancient Philosopher mentions 'agape'? Thanks for your help.

[@GregoryBSadler]

Ailish Beth D all over the place, usually in verbal form. Don’t trust the people who claim that Greeks rigidly distinguished agape from eros, from philia, from storge/philostorge. They’re mostly wrong

[@kyndrasueleon]

I enjoyed your lecture.

[@GregoryBSadler]

Thanks!

[@kevinsavard9097]

Im guessing you wanted to see if they would correct you? Alcibiades or Agathon.

[@JEThorburnJr]

Agathon comes in drunk?!?! Alcibiades comes in drunk at the end of the Symposium.

[@GregoryBSadler]

Yep. So, you're saying that at one point in this 3-video series, I misspoke and switched their names? I do know I mentioned Alcibiades coming in drunk a number of times. . . But, if that's all that caught your attention. . . .

[@kevinsavard9097]

All good.

[@BEDLAMITE-5280ft.]

One of the reason Plato brings in Alcibiades is to show how attractive Socrates comes across, to show the how romantic philosophy is?

[@GregoryBSadler]

Possibly. Probably not a main reason

[@BEDLAMITE-5280ft.]

What is the main reason he brings him in?

[@GregoryBSadler]

Look at the key points that get made in that part of the dialogue, and see whether they connect up to earlier parts of the dialogue

[@BEDLAMITE-5280ft.]

Okay will do, thank you I really appreciate you taking the time out to reply to me

[@kevinsavard9097]

Irony