Alcibiades - Love of Socrates

In the long aged discussion of the Symposium, a controversial, yet opinion based issue

has been which speaker's speech resonates most closely with our notion of Love. On the one

hand, some argue that Alcibiades, the last and only drunk speaker, has the most relatable notion

of Love. From this perspective, Love requires one to fall helplessly for one; it is an

uncontrollable phenomenon. On the other hand, however, others argue Socrates's and Diotima's

climbing of the “ladder of love” is the true meaning to Love. In the words of Diotima, one of this

view's main proponents is to “use the things of this world as rungs in a ladder.” According to this

view, one must use the various beauties in this world in order to ascend and view Beauty for

what it truly is. In sum, then, I will be arguing that Socrates’ speech came closest in defining

Alcibiades' speech about Love in the Symposium unlike other speakers, praises Socrates

himself rather than the God of Love. Through Alcibiades speech, we can see that his notion of

Love revolves around the love of a particular person, namely Socrates. For example, during

Alcibiades’ speech, he discusses the history between him and Socrates. Alcibiades brings up the

time where they were at war together and describes Socrates as “brave” and “courageous” as he

never felt cold throughout the war -- at one time even saving Alcibiades' life. Alcibiades notion

of Love seems like a helpless type that one just falls into; Alcibiades himself says, “No slave has

ever been more utterly in the power of any master than I was in his” (Plato 219e). In making this

comment, Alcibiades urges everyone to acknowledge the power that Love has on the helpless

lover. As Socrates is the uglier and elder man, we would think that Alcibiades, the most

handsome man in Athens, would be the loved one – yet in reality Socrates is actually the loved

one. This goes to show that Alcibiades...