Diotima's Eudaemonism: Intrinsic Value and Rational Motivation in Plato's Symposium

Author: Wedgwood, Ralph

Source: Phronesis: A Journal for Ancient Philosophy, Volume 54, Numbers 4-5, 2009 , pp. 297-325(29)

Publisher: BRILL

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Abstract:

This paper gives a new interpretation of the central section of Plato's Symposium (199d-212a). According to this interpretation, the term "καλóν", as used by Plato here, stands for what many contemporary philosophers call "intrinsic value"; and "love" (ερωζ) is in effect rational motivation, which for Plato consists in the desire to "possess" intrinsically valuable things - that is, according to Plato, to be happy - for as long as possible. An explanation is given of why Plato believes that "possessing" intrinsically valuable things, at least for mortals like us, consists in actively creating instantiations of the intrinsic values, both in oneself and in the external world, and in knowing and loving these intrinsic values and their instantiations. Finally, it is argued that this interpretation reveals that Plato's "eudaemonism" is a different and more defensible doctrine than many commentators believe.

Keywords: PLATO; SYMPOSIUM; INTRINSIC VALUE; RATIONAL MOTIVATION; EUDAEMONISM

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/003188609X12486562883093

Affiliations: 1: Merton College, Oxford OX1 4JD, UK

Publication date: 2009-09-01