Eros and Polis：A Missing Aspect of Plato’s Political Philosophy
Date Issued
2012
Date
2012
Author(s)
Chien, Nien-Chun
Abstract
The central purpose of this thesis is to point out that previous studies of Plato’s political philosophy have mainly emphasized themes from the Republic, Statesman and Laws, tending to neglect a less studied theme in the Symposium: the irreplaceable role of eros in the pursuit of beauty and goodness. Plato bases his political philosophy on his overall philosophical scheme, which includes reason and eros as the ways to approach happiness. Logical reason achieves truth and eros achieves beauty and goodness. Therefore, in order to comprehend the entirety of Plato’s political philosophy, one simply cannot overlook his themes in the Symposium. Eros is the human instinct to pursue, its ultimate goals being beauty and goodness. It starts from longing the beauty of the body and then evolves into the admiration of virtues, laws, and political regime. Eventually, the longing and admiration of beauty transcends into the knowledge of beauty. Consequently, through a proper education of one’s instinct of eros, people may be reformed from ordinary individuals into better citizens who love their polis.
Subjects
Plato
Symposium
eros
erotic love
patriotism
Type
thesis
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