A temática do homoerotismo e do feminino nos cinco primeiros encômios do banquete platônico

Abstract

This research aims at the object of the analysis and discussion of the first five speeches that comprise one of the most celebrated Platonic dialogues, The Symposium. Among the justifications that can be presented for the detailed examination of these praises is the fact that they bring a strong proleptic load with respect to the panegyric of Socrates; the treatment that tradition grants them, in a general way, relegates them to an investigative inattention. This is due to the strong centrality that is attributed to the speech of the philosopher, in contraposition to the superficial judgement which is made of the praises of the others as non-philosophical enunciations. However, there is a huge wealth conteudal that Plato deposits in each of the praises of Eros proferred by the symposiasts preceding the philosopher of Athens. Admitting this wealth, the present work will focus on the analysis of two very striking aspects in the culture of classical Greece, which seem to oppose each other. However, in the course of dialogue, they undergo a resignification process through a philosophical approach promoted by Plato. It's homoeroticism and feminine. It will be demonstrated that during the development of the dramatic scene of The Symposium, these themes, of public domain and, perhaps so, impregnated by the doxa, are revisited by Plato through a philosophical education. Finally, in a continuous movement throughout this survey, it will become apparent that the text of The Symposium is also a platonic effort to denounce, take ownership and overcome the theses sophisties – especially those concerning the paideia sophistry –, richly present in all the top five praises to Eros and therefore as an inevitable consequence, as will be pointed out, also in the speech of Socrates.