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Phaedrus Study Guide

by Plato

Phaedrus study guide contains a biography of Plato, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

Socrates meets Phaedrus in Athens. Phaedrus has spent the morning listening to Lysias deliver a speech on love, and now he desires to take a walk outside the city. Since Socrates expresses a keen interest in hearing Lysias's speech, Phaedrus manages to lure him out to the countryside. Phaedrus has a copy of Lysias's speech at hand and will read it to Socrates.

Lysias's speech argues that in a pederastic relationship, a boy should give his favors to an old man who is not in love rather than one who is in love. The lover, Lysias claims, is mad, and as such is given to unhealthy tendencies that cannot benefit the boy. The non-lover, on the other hand, will offer the boy a stable and educational friendship.

Phaedrus believes this speech to be…

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Phaedrus Essays and Related Content

 

Posted By matthew t #323239 at May 15, 2013 2:34 PM

 

Posted By cody j #299437 at Feb 01, 2013 12:23 PM

What according to Socrates, is the most worthwhile life a human can live, and what does Socrates think is the highest good a human can achieve?

I'm having troubling answering this but i know it has something to do with love and establishing knowledge through the soul. Not a philosophy major.

Phaedrus | Answers: 1

 

Posted By benjamin c #156561 at Nov 09, 2010 9:31 AM

Truth and Rhetoric in Phaedrus

Truth and Rhetoric in Phaedrus: does Plato deny that rhetoric can ever be used for truth? Can it?

Phaedrus | Answers: 2