Philosophy and the human conditionSocrates and Alcibiades In Plato's Symposium, he describes the party to which Agathon invited several famous people of his time to dinner. Among those present include Phaedrus, Pausanias, Eryximachus, Aristophanes and Socrates. The party begins with the group members having dinner and then starting to talk about love. Every person gives a praise of love. After everyone has spoken, including Socrates, Alcibiades enters and gives a eulogy of Socrates. The two agree on the nature of love in some ways and disagree in others. Both have very different views on the subject. Socrates has a very philosophical approach and Alcibiades has a more simplistic approach. Socrates begins by questioning Agathon about love, explaining that it is neither good nor beautiful. He talks about his time talking to Diotima, who tells him that love is neither God nor mortal; who occupies the middle ground as a spirit. Then he tells him the function of the spirits. “They translate and transmit messages from men to gods and from gods to men. They convey the prayers of men and the instructions of the god, the offerings of men and the return of the god on these offerings," he says (202e). Socrates says that love arises from Abundance and Poverty on the day of Aphrodite's birth, so beauty always follows.Love is also poor, harsh, needy, but nevertheless intelligent.Next, Socrates explains that we do not seek our other half unless the half or even the whole is good say, we are even willing to amputate our arms and legs if we think they are in bad condition. It is only when a person describes what is good and what is not so bad that he is capable of being satisfied with what belongs to him. .. middle of paper… egnant” is to love a man . Women are capable of meaningful and wise conversations. I agree that we are not looking for our other halves; I think you are attracted to people all over life, even after finding someone you love. I feel love is an emotion or feeling of completeness with a person. In Alcibiades' speech, I agree that the person you love may seem one way on the outside, but is totally different and virtuous on the inside. I also agree that we feel shame around our partners, because we act more virtuously when we are with them. I also agree that if you love someone, that love is very long lasting and tough and can withstand almost anything. Finally, I agree that when the person you love, at least to you, seems to be the best person you have ever met. I don't completely agree with Socrates or Alcibiades, but I mostly agree with Alcibiades.