Essays

Eros en Mania in Plato’s Symposium en Phaedrus

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Abstract

This essay discusses Plato’s views on eros and mania in the Symposium and Phaedrus. The crucial suggestion we make is that there exists some continuity between both dialogues. Nussbaum’s well-known palinode hypothesis, however, claims otherwise. She argues that Plato radically revised his view of mania from the Symposium to the Phaedrus, and now argues that continued mania need not necessarily lead to disease. In our view, however, this hypothesis disregards Plato’s complete aversion for irrationality. Our research question is the following: does Plato use eros and mania in the same way in the Symposium and Phaedrus, or are there differences? If so, on what level? We will argue that the unity between both dialogues lies in the love for the Forms through education, but that we can also observe some ‘transitional differences’, such as for example the role of philia in the Phaedrus

How to Cite:

Van Wijnendaele, A., (2022) “Eros en Mania in Plato’s Symposium en Phaedrus”, Tetradio 31(1): 7, 137–157. doi: https://doi.org/10.21825/tetradio.91598