Researcher ORCID Identifier
0009-0004-0582-185X
Graduation Year
2024
Date of Submission
4-2024
Document Type
Open Access Senior Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts
Department
Philosophy
Reader 1
Suzanne Obdrzalek
Terms of Use & License Information
Rights Information
© 2024 Miranda Zhao
Abstract
Love, a concept revered across cultures and time, holds multifaceted meanings and roles in human experience. Plato, in his dialogues Symposium and Phaedrus, offers profound insights into the nature of love. However, Plato’s conception of love has been subject to criticism, with many viewing it as selfish, objectifying, and lacking in interpersonal connections. Central to these criticisms is the question of whether the lover’s affection for the beloved persists after grasping the concept of true beauty. In this thesis, I delve into Plato’s idea of love as presented in the Symposium and Phaedrus, aiming to demonstrate that Platonic love transcends mere self-interest, encompasses interpersonal love, and the lover’s love for the beloved endures even after grasping the true form of beauty.
Recommended Citation
Zhao, Miranda, "The Evolution of Love: The Concept of True Beauty in Plato’s Symposium and Phaedrus" (2024). CMC Senior Theses. 3670.
https://scholarship.claremont.edu/cmc_theses/3670
