AMosquera, Plato’s Symposium

 Off the bat, this passage is clear of the relations to philosophical or educational discussions about the aesthetics of the nature of beauty. It suggests that to approach matters of beauty from a young age, it has to be guided by an instructor or mentor to learn how to appreciate beauty properly. From their lesson, they are expected to develop noble and fair thoughts and should realize that the beauty of one form is similar to the beauty of another, leading to a broader understanding. In the appreciation of beauty in all forms, it is foolish to not acknowledge that beauty lives in every form, and learn to love all beautiful forms. As this person thinks, they begin to consider the beauty of the mind as more honorable than the outward appearance. This is definitely about the development of an individual’s aesthetic sense, moral character, and understanding of beauty in both physical and abstract forms. It talks about how a virtuous soul, who may possess minimal physical attractiveness, would be satisfied with what it has and focus on nurturing itself. The text continues and talks about nurturing noble thoughts, contemplation of beauty in laws and institutions, transitions to science, and love for wisdom. Overall, this text was confusing and hard to follow, but is definitely giving information about beauty and how it can be understood and applied.

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