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

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Terms of Use for work posted in Scholarship@Claremont.

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.

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Philosophy Commons

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