Questions: 1) Diatoma’s discussion about desire, immortality, and the souls creativity: Critically analyze Diatoma’s arguments conceming the nature of desire and the objects of desire, explaining the difference between desire (eros, love) and wanting to possess the good forever. Why is the purpose of desire (love) giving birth towards beauty? What does she mean by the “whole of love”? (Plato, 51) Why is love the desire for immortality? Why do those with pregnant souls seek out individuals who are beautiful? What does the soul create? How is love related to education?
2) Aristophanes and Plato: Aristophane’s position on love is relatively straightforward. He argues that love is the desire for the perfect union and wholeness that we, as mortals, lack. Critically analyze Aristophane’s conception of the nature of love, then compare and contrast his view with the position on love that Plato defends through the persona of Diatoma. According to Aristophanes, what is the human situation, and what can love attain? How does Plato (Diatoma) answer these questions?
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