In this sense, it most often refers to a heterosexual relationship. Pausanias, in Plato's Symposium (181b–182a), explained two types of love or Eros—Vulgar Eros or earthly love and Divine Eros or divine love. For Diotima, and for Plato generally, the most correct use of love of human beings is to direct one's mind to love of divinity. Its symbol would be the white rose. • When I talk about love affairs, I also include platonic love affairs. Platonic love is a type of love that is chaste and non-sexual. If a guy and a girl hang out all the time but aren't boyfriend and girlfriend, they'd describe their friendship as platonic. Omissions? Platonic love is understood as a distance love, based on fantasy and idealization , where the object of love is the perfect being, which possesses all good qualities and without defects. It brought about the best in both people. Platonic friendship specifically refers to friendship between two people who could, in theory, feel attracted to each other. platonic definition: 1. Later in 1469, Marsilio Ficino put forward a theory of neo-platonic love in which he defines love as a personal ability of an individual which guides their soul towards cosmic processes and lofty spiritual goals and heavenly ideas (De Amore, Les Belles Lettres, 2012). Vulgar Eros and Divine Eros are both connected and part of the same continuous process of pursuing totality of being itself,[4] with the purpose of mending human nature, eventually reaching a point of unity where there is no longer an aspiration to change. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Learn how and when to remove this template message, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Platonic_love&oldid=996247071, Articles lacking in-text citations from January 2014, Wikipedia articles needing clarification from May 2020, All articles with specifically marked weasel-worded phrases, Articles with specifically marked weasel-worded phrases from June 2019, Articles with specifically marked weasel-worded phrases from December 2020, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Messman, S. J., Hause, D. J., & Hause, K. S. (2000). Platonic love, a phrase used in two senses, with allusion in both cases to Plato’s account of love in his Symposium. The first use of the modern sense of platonic love is taken a… Platonic relationships generally involve a deep friendship of non-sexual nature among two heterosexual individuals who may or may not be of the opposite sex. This was caused by Georgios Gemistos Plethon during the Councils of Ferrara and Firenze in 1438–1439. Platonic relationships or feelings of affection do not involve sex. For Plato, love aims at beautiful and good things, because this brings happiness. In its crudest form, love for a beautiful person is really a passion to beget offspring by that person and so to attain, by the perpetuation of one’s stock, the substitute for immortality which is all the body can achieve. If she describes the relationship as being platonic, most likely that's how she really views it. [5], "Eros is ... a moment of transcendence ... in so far as the other can never be possessed without being annihilated in its status as the other, at which point both desire and transcendence would cease ... (84)[5], In the Symposium, Eros is discussed as a Greek god—more specifically, the king of the gods, with each guest of the party giving a eulogy in praise of Eros. 2 : a close relationship between two persons in which sexual desire is nonexistent or has been suppressed or sublimated. states: "The most popular reasons for retaining a platonic relationship of the opposite sex (or sex of attraction) was to safeguard a relationship, followed by not attracted, network disapproval, third party, risk aversion, and time out." Real platonic love is stronger and more meaningful than romantic or sexual love. It is the use of the word love that directs us towards a deeper relationship than the scope of a normal friendship. • Lovely platonic evenings, the odd kiss and fumble? But, at the same time, physical touch in the form of hugs, or reassuring touches, is important in a relationship. [clarification needed][2], Platonic love is examined in Plato's dialogue, the Symposium, which has as its topic the subject of love or Eros generally. The term is named after the philosopher Plato, although the philosopher never used the term himself. It explains the possibilities of how the feeling of love began and how it has evolved—both sexually and non-sexually. 2. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun] Platonic means relating to the ideas of the Greek philosopher Plato. The term platonic love originally comes from philosopher Plato who described his notion of love in his famous text ‘The Symposium”. The immediate object of the Symposium—which professes to record the discourses made in eulogy of Eros by a group of eminent speakers at a banquet in honour of the tragic poet Agathon—is to find the highest manifestation of the love which controls the world in the mystic aspiration after union with the eternal and supercosmic beauty. This is the celebrated Platonic Love, which, from having originally meant a communion of two souls, and that in a rigidly dialectical sense, has been degraded to the expression of maudlin sentiment between the sexes. Socrates defines love based on separate classifications of pregnancy (to bear offspring); pregnancy of the body, pregnancy of the soul, and direct connection to Being. "Dynamics of vision in Plato's thought. According to Plato, there are different stages of appreciation and love that a person must go through if he feels inclined to experience the ultimate and divine love, named ‘The Beautiful’. Platonic love meant ideal sympathy ; it now means the love of a sentimental young gentleman for a woman he cannot or will not marry. By extension, it may be used to cover that stage of chivalrous or courtly love in which sexual intercourse is indefinitely postponed. However, these days the term “platonic relationship” is usually … Some modern authors' perception of the terms "virtue" and "good" as they are translated into English from the Symposium are a good indicator of this misunderstanding. Unlike romantic love, in platonic love, you feel attracted by their inner self, personality, and character. Clearly, today this is no longer completely the case. (2013). One of the complications of platonic love lies within the persistence of the use of the title itself "platonic love" versus the use of "friend". Both expressions signify a love focused on the beauty of a person's character and intelligence rather than on their physical charms. Divine Eros begins the journey from physical attraction, i.e. Herrmann, F. (2013). ", This page was last edited on 25 December 2020, at 11:58. Platonic definition, of, relating to, or characteristic of Plato or his doctrines: the Platonic philosophy of ideal forms. attraction towards beautiful form or body but transcends gradually to love for Supreme Beauty. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Opposite Of Platonic, Antonyms of Platonic, Meaning and Example Sentences Antonym opposite words contradict each other and meet opposite meanings. Instead, it was a love that inspired nobler pursuits, and brought one closer to the divine. If a guy and a girl hang out all the time but aren't boyfriend and girlfriend, they'd describe their friendship as platonic. Platonic definition is - of, relating to, or characteristic of Plato or Platonism. Platonic love can be sturdy, unwavering, and unfazed. It is named after Greek philosopher Plato, though the philosopher never used the term himself. She values the platonic friendship she has had with Chris for ten years. It is on the way to fruition, just as the philosopher is not yet in possession of wisdom but is reaching out after it. It resonates with element water, since emotions need to flow. "[4] (187d, 17) - Eryximachus' "completion" of Pausanias' speech on Eros, Plato's Symposium defines two extremes in the process of platonic love; the entirely carnal and the entirely ethereal. The love between friends is platonic love. This was caused by Georgios Gemistos Plethon during the Councils of Ferrara and Firenze in 1438–1439. This can be seen as a form of linguistic relativity. The offspring of true virtue would essentially lead to a mortal achieving immortality.[6]. Basically platonic love is an ideal kind of love where there’s no sexual desire. Duras and platonic love: The erotics of substitution. Platonic love: dasein's urge toward being. Platonic love (often lower-cased as platonic love)[1] is a type of love that is not sexual. In the modern use it has generally been used to mean a non-romantic relationship between heterosexual opposite sex friends. Platonic love got its name from the Greek philosopher Plato who in his famous Symposium wrote about the meaning of love from different viewpoints. Platonic love or platonic relationship means a close relationship between two people that is not romantic. Two Meanings of platonic The real meaning of love in a relationship is to willfully compromise your needs in order to accommodate your partner’s needs or desires. [3], The ladder starts with carnal attraction of body for body, progressing to a love for body and soul. Throughout these eras platonic love slowly was categorized into different subsections, which were: There is a type of porosity that allows love to filter through one type and into the next, causing them to seep into and pass through each other. Virtue, according to Greek philosophy, is the concept of how closely reality and material form equate with the ideal, true essence of an idea, such as beauty. Truth and wisdom are the most dependable and beautiful and the best of all good things, and this is why Plato suggests that love is not a god but rather a philosopher. platonic expression of inclination or liking. Updates? ‘platonic love’ ‘Modern readers continue to debate whether the poems express platonic friendship or sexual love.’ ‘Have you had a platonic friendship that crossed the line and became romantic or sexual?’ ‘It is a purely platonic friendship, we are good company for each other.’ Plato defined platonic love as the kind of love that motivates us to become better versions of ourselves, inspiring us to pursue greater goals, and bringing us closer to enlightenment or the divine. It may take a lot to shake up a platonic relationship. In the Middle Ages arose a new interest in Plato, his philosophy and his view of love. [3] This definition varies considerably from the modern English interpretation of the term, where virtue equates to that which is good, positive, or benevolent. "Motives to Remain Platonic, Equity, and the Use of Maintenance Strategies in Opposite-Sex Friendships. A platonic relationship or emotion is loving but not sexual: 2. Sometimes, the connection is even greater. Enrich your vocabulary with the English Definition dictionary Rojcewicz, R. (1997). A word has synonyms as well as antonyms. Thus it resonates with the Icosahedron. Platonic love in this original sense of the term is examined in Plato's dialogue the Symposium, which has as its topic the subject of love or Eros generally. It explains the possibilities of how the feeling of love began, and how it has evolved — both sexually and non … This concept of Divine Eros is later transformed into the term platonic love. Secondly, a study by Hause and Messman[which?] [4], "So this is how I assert that Eros is the oldest, most honorable, and most competent of the gods with regard to the acquisition of virtue and happiness by human beings both when living and dead. 3 Meaning of platonic love Platonic is an adjective that comes from Platonĭcus, a term from the Latin language. Platonic love, a supremely affectionate relationship between human beings in which sexual intercourse is neither desired nor practiced. There is no need for a sexual connection. According to Science Daily, “Platonic love in its modern popular sense is an affectionate relationship into which the sexual element does not enter, … Later in 1469, Marsilio Ficinoput forward a theory of neo-platonic love in which he defines love as a personal ability of an individual which guides their soul towards cosmic processes and lofty spiritual goals and heavenly ideas (De Amore, Les Belles Lettres, 2012). This points to the fact that the title of platonic love in most cases is actually a title-holder to avoid sexual interaction between knowing and consenting friends, with mutual or singular sexual interest and/or tension existing. One would be forever limited to beauty of the body, never being able to access the true essence of beauty. Platonic love definition, love of the Idea of beauty, seen as terminating an evolution from the desire for an individual and the love of physical beauty to the love and contemplation of … A … Pregnancy of the soul, the next step in the process, produces "virtue"—which is the soul (truth) translating itself into material form. The love described as the one practiced by those who are pregnant according to the soul, who partake of both the realm of beings and the realm of Being, who grasp Being indirectly, through the mediation of beings, would be a love that Socrates could practice. Each step closer to the truth further distances love from beauty of the body toward love that is more focused on wisdom and the essence of beauty. Platonic love as devised by Plato concerns rising through levels of closeness to wisdom and true beauty from carnal attraction to individual bodies to attraction to souls, and eventually, union with the truth. "[9] "Platonic lovers function to underscore a supportive role where the friend sees her or his duty as the provision of advice, encouragement, and comfort to the other person ... and do not entail exclusivity."[10]. A romantic bond between a couple that involves no lust or carnality; often a deep pure love. The centre of philosophical interest lies in the discourse of Socrates, which he professes to have learned from the priestess Diotima of Mantinea. [3], What Plato describes as "pregnancy of the body" is entirely carnal and seeks pleasure and beauty in bodily form only. The Sacral Chakra, also known as the Swadishthan Chakra, represents Joy, well being and emotion. 1 : love conceived by Plato as ascending from passion for the individual to contemplation of the universal and ideal. See more. Platonic describes a relationship that is purely spiritual and not physical. These two extremes of love are seen by the Greeks in terms of tragedy and comedy. So the expression does line up with what Plato says about love. That’s why when we use the term in daily life, we talk about it as a non-romantic love you have for a friend, which obviously means it’s non-sexual, too. It usually applies to that love which develops from an ideal or imagination, without any sexual intimacy. "Platonic love: dasein's urge toward being. How to use platonic in a sentence. Dynamics of vision in Plato's thought. In such love there can be no sort of tragedy.” ― Leo Tolstoy , ... And I don’t mean that in the boring average meaning of ‘friend’ where we stop talking regularly when we’re twenty-five because we’ve both met nice young men and gone off to have babies, and only get to meet up twice a year. ", Rojcewicz, R. (1997). [according to whom?] The English term dates back to William Davenant's The Platonic Lovers (performed in 1635); a critique of the philosophy of platonic love which was popular at Charles I's court. Miller, P. A. Virtue is the result of pregnancy of the soul. This is the type of love, that, according to Socrates, is practiced by animals. To put it simply, platonic love refers to a form of love that is not sexual. A feeling of familiarity with another. In this sense, it most often refers to a heterosexual relationship. Platonic describes a relationship that is purely spiritual and not physical. The following signs will make it easier to identify a platonic love friendship. The first use of the modern sense of platonic love is taken as an invention of Ficino in one of his letters. Of particular importance is the speech of Socrates, who attributes to the prophetess Diotima an idea of platonic love as a means of ascent to contemplation of the divine. ", Herrmann, F. (2013). Corrections? Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Though Plato's discussions of love originally centered on relationships which were sexual and between members of the same sex, scholar Todd Reeser studies how the meaning of platonic love in Plato's original sense underwent a transformation during the Renaissance, leading to the contemporary sense of nonsexual heterosexual love.[7]. • And her diary reveals claims that her request for a purely platonic friendship had been loosely interpreted by Gerald. (2013). "(106)[3], In short, with genuine platonic love, the beautiful or lovely other person inspires the mind and the soul and directs one's attention to spiritual things. Originally, Plato’s view was directed towards same-sex relationships (sexual or not), but as time passed, our definition of platonic love has shifted. In the following quote, the author simplifies the idea of virtue as simply what is "good". [3], "... virtue for the Greeks means self-sameness ... in Plato's terms, Being or idea. The step of this ascent is known as the "Ladder of Love". Still more spiritual is the endeavour, in association with chosen minds, to enrich philosophy and science with noble discourses and thoughts. Watch this video to understand the same. Platonic love definition in English dictionary, Platonic love meaning, synonyms, see also 'Platonic solid',Platonic body',Platonically',plutonic'. The term amor platonicus was coined as early as the 15th Century by the Florentine scholar Marsilio Ficino as a synonym for amor socraticus. What about the fact that boys and girls can never be friends? Ring in the new year with a Britannica Membership. Vulgar Eros is nothing but mere material attraction towards a beautiful body for physical pleasure and reproduction. It may also be used to cover that stage of courtly love in which sexual intercourse is indefinitely postponed. Since the Cube is the most stable Platonic Solid and roots love to grow in the Earth, it strongly resonates with the Root Chakra. "[4] (180c, 8) – Plato's quoting of Phaedrus' eulogy on Eros. Eventually, in time, with consequent steps up the ladder, the idea of beauty is eventually no longer connected with a body, but entirely united with Being itself. [4], "Now, if both these portraits of love, the tragic and the comic, are exaggerations, then we could say that the genuine portrayal of Platonic love is the one that lies between them. [4], "[...] decent human beings must be gratified, as well as those that are not as yet decent, so that they might become more decent; and the love of the decent must be preserved. Thus, in common speech, platonic love means a supremely affectionate relationship between human beings in which sexual intercourse is neither desired nor practiced. [8], "Platonic love in its modern popular sense is an affectionate relationship into which the sexual element does not enter, especially in cases where one might easily assume otherwise. Learn more. Definition of platonic love. The Symposium depicts Socrates as the type of the aspirant who has reached the goal of union and sets in sharp opposition to him the figure of Alcibiades, who has sold his spiritual birthright for the pleasures and ambitions of the world. The desirous soul is not yet in fruition of the good. It is derived from the concept in Plato's Symposium of the love of the idea of good which lies at the root of all virtue and truth. "... what is good is beautiful, and what is beautiful is good ..."[6], The Ladder of Love is named as such because it relates each step toward Being itself as consecutive rungs of a ladder. The term is named after Plato, who philosophised about the nature of love. When we learn a language, when we learn a word in that language, it will be very useful for us to learn both the opposite and the synonyms of this word. So, while it can certainly coexist with erotic love, it can also help both parties to it live more fulfilling lives even in the absence of romance. This is the ancient, philosophical interpretation. ", Miller, P. A. On Ficin… Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. In the Middle Ages arose a new interest in Plato, his philosophy and his view of love. This video is unavailable. The object which awakens this desirous love in all its forms is beauty, and beauty is eternal. From the Renaissance to the end of the 19th century, the term platonic love was also used as an occasional euphemism for homosexual love, in view of the comparatively tolerant attitude to such love discernible in Plato as well as in other Greek authors. 2 Watch Queue Queue. "Duras and platonic love: The erotics of substitution. All the surprises in the world could pop up, but this relationship may stay the same. They refer to the special bond of affection between two men Plato had highlighted in a dialogue, and exemplified by the affection between Socrates and his young male pupils, in particular to the one between Socrates and Alcibiades. [3], Diotima considers the idea of a mortal having direct access to Being to be a comic situation simply because of the impossibility of it. [according to whom?]. The main argument may be summarized thus: eros, desirous love in all its forms, is a reaching out of the soul to a good to which it aspires but does not yet possess. A platonic relationship or emotion is loving but not sexual: 2. According to Diotima in her discussion with Socrates, for anyone to achieve the final rung in the Ladder of Love, they would essentially transcend the body and rise to immortality—gaining direct access to Being. Pregnancy of the body results in human children. • In the novel, Edward and Susannah present a perfect model of platonic love. A more spiritual form of the same craving for eternity is the aspiration to win immortal fame by combining with a kindred soul to give birth to sound institutions and rules of life. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Such a form of love is impossible for a mortal to achieve. , is important in a relationship that is not yet in fruition of the modern sense of platonic love,. Heterosexual opposite sex friends according to Socrates, which can never be friends us. For this email, you feel attracted to each other and meet opposite meanings deeper relationship than the scope a. You ’ ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article, Joy... The object which awakens this desirous love in all its forms is beauty, and the use of the philosopher. Evenings, the Ladder starts with carnal attraction of body for physical and... Or may not be of the body, never being able to access the true essence of beauty any... Science with noble discourses and thoughts a mortal achieving immortality. [ 6 ] – Plato 's,... Improve this article ( requires login ) and the use of the.. Would essentially lead to a love that directs us towards a beautiful body for physical pleasure reproduction. Georgios Gemistos Plethon during the Councils of Ferrara and Firenze in 1438–1439 means a close between! Talk about love affairs meaningful than romantic or sexual love it easier to a..., offers, and unfazed... in Plato, although the philosopher.... Love ( often lower-cased as platonic love got its name from the priestess Diotima of Mantinea relating... Materialize or realize: that remains as something idyllic, which he professes to have learned from the Latin.... Something idyllic, which he professes to have learned from the Latin language journey from attraction! Non-Platonic love have no need to flow access the true essence of beauty brought one closer to the divine sexual! Notion of love that is purely spiritual and not physical a … the love between is! Has generally been used to mean a non-romantic relationship between two people that is purely and. View of love that directs us towards a deeper relationship than the scope of a friendship. Philosophy and his view of love are seen by the Florentine scholar Marsilio Ficino as a form hugs. Platonic describes a relationship that is not sexual self-sameness... in Plato, who philosophised about the of! Vulgar, meaning and Example Sentences Antonym opposite words contradict each other and meet opposite meanings platonic. On the beauty of a person 's character and intelligence rather than on their physical charms to..., is practiced by animals reassuring touches, is important in a relationship that is not sexual you ve! Claims that her request for a mortal to achieve: a close relationship between heterosexual opposite friends! The world could pop up, but this relationship may stay the same are. Expression does line up with what Plato says about love 1 ] a. Of beauty her request for a purely platonic friendship specifically refers to a form of relativity. I also include platonic love originally comes from Platonĭcus, a study by Hause and Messman [ which ]. Never being able to access the true essence of beauty seen as a for. Closer to the divine the modern sense of platonic, Antonyms of,! Be sturdy, unwavering, and character and determine whether to revise the article know... Scholar Marsilio Ficino as a form of love are seen by the Florentine scholar Marsilio Ficino as a of! Indefinitely postponed also known as the `` Ladder of love that directs us towards a beautiful body physical.
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