platos phaedrus Flashcards
What themes was in phaedrus?
Theme of madness + the soul
What was mentioned in phaedrus?
The charioteer + horses
What does the white horse on the chariot represent?
Rationality, spirit + immortality
What does the black horse on the chariot represent?
Irrationality, apetite + mortality
Who is Phaedrus speaking to?
Lysias
What does Socrates say desire does?
Sexual desires urges the soul to grow wings + take flight
What does Lysias say?
It’s better to have a sexual relationship with someone who’s not in love w you than someone who is
What does Lysias say about people in love?
People in love aren’t in their right mind + act under compulsion of madness rather than free choice
What does Socrates define love?
Love is a form of madness that occurs when desire overpowers ones better judgement
What does Socrates say the madness of love leads to?
Lovers deprive one another of good things out of jealousy, even philosophy
What happens when Socrates is about to leave?
He feels like he has offended Eros, god of love
What does Socrates do in his second speech?
Changes tactics
Says it’s wrong to reject advances of a lover on the grounds of the lovers madness
What does Socrate say the philosophically inclined soul will do?
Work hard to restrain his bad ‘horse’ through self control
Why did Lysias’ speech fail?
He didn’t properly define the subject from the beginning - precise definition is important
What did Socrates’ argument do that was good?
Carefully divided the topic of ‘madness’ to lead his audience through
