Eryximachus Flashcards
Who is Eryximachus
- A doctor by profession, close friend of Phaedrus
- gives the third speech all around about Love, from a physical-medical perspective
- He seconds Pausanius’ proposal that they spend the night talking rather than engaged in heavy drinking, and proposes the topic for the speeches
How is Love defined by Eryximachus - is it a god or some other being?
- It is a male god, and also great and awesome
- It is also seen as a human manifestation of a universal phenomenon
How is Love’s power described by Eryximachus?
- Love pervades every creature on earth
- It is capable of curing disease (ref to Hippocrates)
- Erixymachus also attributes music, climate and even the gods to love
What is said about bad love? What are its risks or dangers? by Eryximachus
- Just like physical disease, bad love should not be gratified
- Good and bad love or the “extremes of hostility between the bodily elements” can be reconciled by an expert
What is said by Eryximachus regarding pederasty, homosexuality or heterosexuality? but also women?
- Not much is mentioned but he agrees with Pausanias definition of
- connotations with heterosexual love
What other key ideas are explored by Eryximachus?
- prepares for Diotima/ Socrate’s view of love as a spirit pervading everything (stepping stone)
- harmonious potential for moderate love is certainnly suggestive of Pausanias’ celestial love
What are the 4 key focuses of Eryximachus’ love concept
- music - representing balance
- medicine - can cure
- climate - extremes
- gods - most powerful - restrained moral behaviour
love is not ……. according to Eryximachus
- omnipotent
Eryximachus thinks love can bring internal ….
- harmony
What does Eryximachus agrees with that Pausanias says
’ the aim of a loving relationship is to cultivate some form of excellence and for that reason a correct lover should have an expertise.’ (Sheffield)
what is the correlation between Eryximachus’ speech & Socrates’
- ‘The broadness of Eryximachus’ speech and view of love fits in well with Socrates’ views, i.e. Love pervades everything, and eros itself expands beyond sex and becomes only a metaphor.’ (Waterfield)
With Eryixmachus it is unclear…
- how relevant is idea is the good order of the sole
- as there is little direct application to the human experience
