Plato's Symposium
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The Greek word sumposion means a drinking party (a fact shamefully ignored by the organizers of modern symposia), and the party described in Plato's Symposium is one supposedly given in the year 416 BC by the playwright Agathon to celebrate his victory in the dramatic festival of the Lenaea. He has already given one party, the previous evening; this second party is for a select group of friends, and host and guests alike are feeling a little frail.
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Aristotle's Poetics is best known for its definitions and analyses of tragedy and comedy, but it also applies to truth and beauty as they are manifested in the other arts. In our age, when the natural and social sciences have dominated the quest for truth, it is helpful to consider why Aristotle claimed poetry is more philosophical and more significant than history. Like so many other works by Aristotle, the Poetics has dominated the way we have thought about all forms of dramatic performance in Europe and America ever since.
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These five very different Socratic Dialogues date from Plato's later period, when he was revisiting his early thoughts and conclusions and showing a willingness for revision. In Timaeus (mainly a monologue read by David Timson in the title role), Plato considers cosmology in terms of the nature and structure of the universe, the ever-changing physical world and the unchanging eternal world. And he proposes a demiurge as a benevolent creator God.
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Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics, said to be dedicated to Aristotle's son, Nicomachus, is widely regarded as one of the most important works in the history of Western philosophy. Addressing the question of how men should best live, Aristotle's treatise is not a mere philosophical meditation on the subject, but a practical examination that aims to provide a guide for living out its recommendations.
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ATTN: students
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Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics and Eudemian Ethics represent, in many ways, the Western classical springboard for the systematic study and implementation of ethics, the optimum behaviour of the individual. (By contrast, Aristotle’s Politics concerns the optimum blueprint for the city-state.) It is in the hands of each individual, he argues in these books on personal ethics, to develop a character which bases a life on virtue, with positive but moderate habits.
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5 out of 5 stars
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The Socratic Dialogues Middle Period, Volume 2
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 48
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 42
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The remarkable range of Plato's Dialogues is vividly demonstrated by these three works. It opens with Phaedrus, a highly personal discussion between Socrates (David Rintoul) and the young, love-struck Phaedrus (Gunnar Cauthery). They go for a walk outside the walls of Athens and, under a plane tree by the banks of the Ilissus, talk about love - erotic and 'Platonic' love. Socrates endeavours to steer Phaedrus away from infatuation and show him that real love is based on concern for the beloved.
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3 out of 5 stars
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Excellent recording, but ...
- By Victor on 07-25-20
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Metaphysics
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- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 65
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 52
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 54
Aristotle's Metaphysics was the first major study of the subject of metaphysics - in other words, an inquiry into 'first philosophy', or 'wisdom'. It differs from Physics which is concerned with the natural world: things which are subject to the laws of nature, things that move and change, are measurable. In Metaphysics, the study falls on 'being qua being' - being insofar as it is being; the causes and principles of being, the causes and principles of substances.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Very challenging indeed ...
- By mohadcheridi on 01-20-18
Publisher's Summary
The dramatic nature of Plato's dialogues is delightfully evident in Symposium. The marriage between character and thought bursts forth as the guests gather at Agathon's house to celebrate the success of his first tragedy. With wit and insight, they all present their ideas about love - from Erixymachus' scientific naturalism to Aristophanes' comic fantasy. The unexpected arrival of Alcibiades breaks the spell cast by Diotima's ethereal climb up the staircase of love to beauty itself. Ecstasy and intoxication clash as Plato concludes with one of his most skillful displays of dialectic.
© Agora Publications
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Aleksander
- 11-09-16
fantastic
recommend this to anyone who likes to think. it's not so much about romantic love, but rather a love of beauty and wisdom
3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Andrew Karlovsky
- 04-25-18
It gets better
The first half is kind of rambling and a mixed performance.The later half Is downright breathtaking. By far one of my favorite audible performances.
1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Kolit
- 05-14-19
Loved It
Symposium is not my favorite dialog to read, but it is my favorite to listen to. This audio-book gave me that feeling like I wanted to cry, not because I was sad, but because I was so moved. If you're into this feeling, you should definitely listen carefully to this book. You'll love it.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Laurel ElecTrip
- 01-27-19
Volume changes but Plato is incredible!
The voices go up and down in volume making it difficult sometimes to maintain the desire able volume level with earbuds. On the other hand, Plato’s origin of man & two half’s that used to be whole is one of my favorite myths of all!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Sarah Byrd
- 01-14-17
very good voices
great story, great voice acting especially from socrates, whoever does his voice is amazing, would listen again
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Henry Taylor
- 11-13-18
Love
The the theories of love are seen in so many different ways and even with this I bet there are more theories out there