The Canon Library
Cover of Symposium

Ancient · Philosophy, dialogue

Symposium

by Plato. A series of speeches at a banquet ascends from erotic attraction to philosophical contemplation of beauty itself.

Date
c. 385–370 BCE
Origin
Ancient Greece
Era
Ancient
Genre
Philosophy, dialogue
Difficulty
Moderate
Length
Short
Collection
The Western Canon

Subjects and themes

Why it matters

A series of speeches at a banquet ascends from erotic attraction to philosophical contemplation of beauty itself.

This work is included in the collection on the basis of great books / bloom. Its cataloged influence level is 5 out of 5.

Related works

Book

Phaedrus

Plato · Ancient · Philosophy / dialogue

Reading lists featuring Symposium

Reading path

Essential 100

A century of works that gives the broadest useful first view of the Western canon. 100 books · Advanced.