More than 2,500 years after it was written, Symposium remains a key text for philosophers, historians, writers, artists and politicians. Plato imagines seven important historical figures, including the philosopher Socrates, debating eros (human love and desire). His works often use this "dramatic dialogue," and many scholars consider Symposium to be the nest example of the technique. From this vibrant contest of words, Plato presents key philosophical ideas about love, ethics, knowledge and the fundamental nature of being. Combining a dynamic literary portrait of intellectuals at play with a series of radical philosophical concepts, Symposium continues to captivate and educate readers to this day.