Video and Podcast Resources On Plato's Symposium

22 videos and 22 podcast episodes designed to help learners get the most out of this classic philosophical work

One of my favorite Platonic dialogues to teach, reread, even just talk about is the Symposium. It is the story of a drinking party celebrating the victory of its host, Agathon, during which instead of partying hard, the attendees decide to give and listen to speeches. Each of the speakers is supposed to be praising love, but nearly all of them veer off into a host of other topics and themes, many of them praising other things instead.

Plato’s usual main character, Socrates, doesn’t steal the show as he does in so many other dialogues. In fact, in the story Socrates tells during his turn to speak, he effectively cedes space to a wise woman, Diotima, who according to him, taught him everything he knows about love.

Each of the other main characters in the dialogue is robustly developed, and gives a speech reflective of their key interests. Plato’s own incredible mimetic talent is on display, as he writes each character’s discourse with their own distinctive voice.

Nearly a decade ago, I developed and taught a 4-week online course specifically on Plato’s Symposium, and produced a series of videos covering all of the key ideas set out in this great dialogue on love, desire, and beauty. More recently, I took all of those videos, edited and improved the sound, and published them as podcast episodes. They take you from the very beginning of the dialogue to its eventual drunken denouement (Alcibiades crashes the party, makes a speech of his own, and then insists everyone indulge). Each of the podcast episodes is also downloadable.

So for anyone who would like to watch or listen to me working in depth and detail through each key aspect of this great Platonic work, here are the links to all of those videos and podcast episodes. Each of the characters speaking at that point in the dialogue is identified here as well.

The Videos and Podcast Episodes

• The Narrative Framework Of The Symposium | watch video | listen to podcast

• Style And Content Of The Character’s Speeches | watch video | listen to podcast

• How And Why Love Should Be Praised | watch video | listen to podcast

Phaedrus’ Speech

• Love, Nobility, And Virtue (Phaedrus) | watch video | listen to podcast

• Is The Lover Or Beloved Greater? (Phaedrus) | watch video | listen to podcast

Pausanius’ Speech

• Heavenly And Earthly Love (Pausanius) | watch video | listen to podcast

• Laws And The Love Of Youth (Pausanius) | watch video | listen to podcast

• Paradoxes Of Love (Pausanius) | watch video | listen to podcast

Eryximachus’ Speech

• Healthy And Diseased Love (Eryximachus) | watch video | listen to podcast

• Love, Music, And Medicine (Eryximachus) | watch video | listen to podcast

• Love As A Cosmic Phenomenon (Eryximachus) | watch video | listen to podcast

Aristophanes’ Speech

• Love As Desire For Lost Unity (Aristophanes) | watch video | listen to podcast

• Three Types Of Men And Women (Aristophanes) | watch video | listen to podcast

• Politics And The Love Of Men (Aristophanes) | watch video | listen to podcast

Agathon’s Speech and Socrates’ Examination

• Love’s Youth, Delicacy, And Suppleness (Agathon) | watch video | listen to podcast

• Love As Master Of The Virtues (Agathon) | watch video | listen to podcast

• Love As Lack Of The Good (Socrates & Agathon) | watch video | listen to podcast

Socrates’ Narration Of Dialogues With Diotima

• Love As Mediator (Diotima & Socrates) | watch video | listen to podcast

• Love, Poetry, And Procreation (Diotima & Socrates) | watch video | listen to podcast

• The Ladder Of Love (Diotima & Socrates) | watch video | listen to podcast

Alcibiades’ Speech

• Socrates, Ugliness, And Beauty (Alcibiades) | watch video | listen to podcast

• Socrates The Lover (Alcibiades) | watch video | listen to podcast

So there you have them. 22 videos and corresponding podcast episodes covering all of the main ideas of Plato’s great dialogue The Symposium! I hope you find them useful resources, if you decide to study this really worthwhile philosophical work!