Symposium (Rizhi Classics)

PlatoShanghai People's Publishing House · ChinaJul 2026

Rating 4.6
Word count
86K words
Chapters
10
ISBN
9787208199347

Tags

Philosophy Readings History of PhilosophyHumanistic CareIntellectual EnlightenmentSlow ReadingWestern ThoughtAcademic Study

Summary

This book is the Symposium, a classic work by the ancient Greek philosopher Plato. Written as a Platonic dialogue, it recounts a gathering—a symposium—that took place on a day in 416 BCE at the home of the Athenian tragic poet Agathon. The participants in turn deliver speeches in praise of Eros, the god of love, producing six encomia and one speech in praise of Socrates. Through the speakers' voices, Plato vividly presents, within the setting of the symposium, the various speculations of the ancient Greeks on eros, and in particular, through the words of Diotima as relayed by Socrates, sets out the "ladder of love" that is distinctively colored by Platonic philosophy, yielding a dazzling philosophical ferment over eros and human nature.

Editor's review

The Symposium is one of Plato's dialogues most concentrated on eros and also one of his most literary works. Set at an Athenian symposium, it unfolds six speeches plus one in praise of Socrates, each praising the god of love from a different angle, until Socrates relays Diotima's "ladder of love," directing eros toward the pursuit of Beauty itself and truth. The Rizhi Classical edition gives readers a relatively reliable text from which to enter this philosophical ferment. Its value lies in letting readers see how the ancient Greeks thought about love, desire, and human nature, and how Plato turned dialectic into drama through the dialogue form. It suits beginners in philosophy, enthusiasts of classical studies, and readers concerned with eros and ethics. When reading, it is best first to go through the speeches in order, noting the differences in each speaker's position, and then return to grasp the place of the "ladder of love" within the whole work.

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Reading tips

  1. Read through in the order of the speeches, first grasping the differences in each speaker's views, then reviewing the structure as a whole.
  2. Slow down when reading the part where Socrates relays Diotima, and note how the "ladder of love" ascends step by step.
  3. Mark passages involving myths and historical figures as you go, and use the notes to understand the context rather than skipping the background.
  4. After finishing, retell in your own words each of the six speeches' views on eros to check whether you have grasped the drama of the dialogue.

About the publisher

Shanghai People's Publishing House China · Founded in 1951

Shanghai People's Publishing House is a comprehensive publisher whose list focuses on academic monographs and general-interest titles in philosophy, social sciences, politics and law, economics and management, and history. Among its books are Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties History in the Chinese Dynastic History series; The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy in foreign literature; the Wenjing Classical Translation Illustrated Edition of The Complete Greek Tragedies of Euripides; and works of social theory such as Max Weber's Economy and Society and Dialectic of Enlightenment: Philosophical Fragments. Its authors include Wang Zhongluo, J.R.R. Tolkien, Luo Niansheng, and Zhou Zuoren.

Contents

  1. 版权信息
  2. 日知古典丛书编委会
  3. 译者序
  4. 会饮篇
  5. 正文一
  6. 正文二
  7. 正文三
  8. 正文四
  9. 正文五
  10. 参考文献

FAQ

What is the Symposium mainly about? It recounts a gathering at the home of the Athenian poet Agathon in 416 BCE, where the participants in turn praise the god of love, producing six speeches and one in praise of Socrates. Socrates relays the teaching of Diotima, setting out the "ladder of love" and directing eros toward the pursuit of Beauty itself and truth.
Do I need to know Plato first to read this book? You need not have studied Plato systematically beforehand. This is a dialogue, and the plot and speeches can be read on their own. If you want a better grasp of how the "ladder of love" relates to the theory of Forms, you can supplement your reading afterward with other Platonic dialogues or introductory guides—but lack of background is no reason to give up on a first reading.
What kind of reader is the Rizhi Classical edition suited to? According to available information, this is the edition in Shanghai People's Publishing House's Rizhi Classical series, aimed at readers who wish to engage with reliable classical texts. It suits beginners in philosophy and enthusiasts of classical studies as a base text for close reading; for specifics on annotations and translation, please refer to the physical book.
Why discuss eros in dialogue form? The dialogue form lets different positions take the stage in turn, presenting the ancient Greeks' pluralistic speculations on eros rather than a single doctrine. Through the differences among the speeches and Socrates' relay, readers can appreciate how Plato turned philosophical discussion into a dramatic scene and gradually led it toward reflection on beauty and truth.

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About the author

Plato Author · Greek

Plato was an ancient Greek philosopher. Born into an aristocratic Athenian family, he studied under Socrates, later founded the Academy, and taught Aristotle. Public sources on the details of his life are limited, and no exact dates of birth and death are recorded. He wrote mainly in dialogue form, letting figures such as Socrates examine questions through conversation—a form that is both dramatic and speculative. His works center on the theory of Forms, justice, the soul, love, and rhetoric. Representative works include the Republic, Phaedrus, Timaeus, the Apology of Socrates, and Phaedo, several of which appear in Greek-Chinese bilingual or complete Chinese translations. His thought established the fundamental questions and modes of discussion in Western philosophy and has had a profound influence on later philosophy, political theory, and education.