the equality of the sexes, there is one fact that neither gender can ignore;

none can survive without the other. Love and the want of a soul mate keeps each

member of man and womankind in constant search of the perfect person with whom

to become one. Yet if this bond is a necessity of the human race then why has

the meaning, purpose and pursuit of it eluded us for so many generations. There

has yet to be a one universal explanation of love and there has yet to be one

who understands it's powers fully. As we see from Plato's Symposium, even the

wisest of men in a time when the search for knowledge was seen as the pathway to

enlightenment love was still a concept that was not understood and unknown.

Though many of the guidelines and characteristics of love are wise, some may not

The writing serves as a pamphlet that depicts some of the guidelines of love as

the philosophers of Plato's time saw them. The intervention of the God's in the

orations of the philosophers can be interpreted to mean the different aspects of

love and their effects on people. The text goes into many characteristics

existence. Because of this, Orpheus was punished. These examples help Phaedrus

given, Plato put a message into each one. Each man brought up valid guidelines

the legend of Achilles, a man was rewarded for the value he put on his friends

life. Achilles sacrificed his own life in an attempt to obtain revenge for his

Pausanias believes that honorable and noble love should only apply to that of

be to suffer the loss of one's masculinity and the inability to protect their

answering that.' ?Yes,' she said, ?the happy are made happy by the acquisition

Some common words found in the essay are:
Plato's Symposium, Soon Pausanias, Achilles Orpheus, Socrates Plato, Ideal Republic, Eventually Socrates, , Socrates Socrates, Soon Phaedrus, concept love, idea love, double standard, love god, modern society, philosophy idea love, society exists, characteristics love, orpheus punished, suffer loss, motive sacrifice, apply modern society, value honor virtue,
Approximate Word count = 2004
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)