Concept
Phaedrus (Athenian)
Overview
Phaedrus (), son of Pythocles, of the Myrrhinus deme (Greek: Φαῖδρος Πυθοκλέους Μυῤῥινούσιος, Phaĩdros Puthokléous Murrhinoúsios; c. 444 – 393 BC), was an ancient Athenian aristocrat associated with the inner-circle of the philosopher Socrates. He was indicted in the profanation of the Eleusinian Mysteries in 415 BC during the Peloponnesian War, causing him to flee Athens.
He is best remembered for his depiction in the dialogues of Plato. His philosophically erotic role in his eponymous dialogue and the Symposium inspired later authors, from the ancient comedic playwright Alexis to contemporary philosophers like Robert M. Pirsig and Martha Nussbaum.
Overview adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0; see the article history for authors).
In the original texts
Passages from public-domain books where Phaedrus (Athenian) is discussed.
PHAEDRUS: He is close at hand, and always at your service. SOCRATES: Know then, fair youth, that the former discourse was the word of Phaedrus, the son of Vain Man, who dwells in the city of Myrrhina (Myrrhinusius). And this which I am about to utter is the recantation of Stesichorus the son of Godly Man (Euphemus), who comes from the town of Desire (Himera), and is to the following effect: 'I told a lie when I…
Plato, Phaedrus
names the idea; states what it is; the book is about it; author linked in the graph; opens on it
Aristodemus did not recollect all that was said, nor do I recollect all that he related to me; but I will tell you what I thought most worthy of remembrance, and what the chief speakers said. Phaedrus began by affirming that Love is a mighty god, and wonderful among gods and men, but especially wonderful in his birth. For he is the eldest of the gods, which is an honour to him; and a proof of his claim to this…
Plato, Symposium
names the idea; author linked in the graph
Now if any one, paraphrasing the fore-cited passages, would have them expressed in more familiar terms, the description in Phaedrus may be thus explained: That Fate is a divine sentence, intransgressible since its cause cannot be divested or hindered. And according to what he has said in his Timaeus, it is a law ensuing on the nature of the universe, according to which all things that are done are transacted.
Plutarch, Complete Works of Plutarch — Volume 3
names the idea
Page 40, line 4, Equally Beautiful, Phaedrus p. 250, Cary 63-65; Hippias Major, 295, Cary 44; Philebus p. 17, Cary 20, 21. Page 41, line 11, Stoic definition, Cicero, Tusculans, iv. 13. Page 44, line 30, Obscurity of Matter, Timaeus, p. 31, Cary 11; Philebus, p. 29, Cary 52. Page 45, line 22, Superior Order, Banquet 210, Cary 34; Timaeus, p. 31, Cary 11.
Plotinus, Plotinos
names the idea; opens on it
For, as you know, Socrates is introduced in almost the last page of the Phaedrus speaking in these words:--"At present, O Phaedrus, Isocrates is quite a young man; but still I delight in telling the expectations which I have of him." "What are they?" says he.
Marcus Tullius Cicero, The Orations of Marcus Tullius Cicero, Volume 4
names the idea; opens on it
Related ideas
- Classical Athens
- Ancient Greek
- Ancient Greek philosophy
- Plato
- Medical doctor
- Greek mythology
- Symposium (Plato)
- Rhetoric
- Socrates
- Robert M. Pirsig
- Martha Nussbaum
- Sicilian Expedition
- Protagoras (dialogue)
- Fallacy
- Diogenes Laertius
- Contemporary philosophy
- Phaedrus (dialogue)
- John Sallis
Place in the tradition
Part of Epicureanism.