Question

1. What is the difference between the two kinds of love Pausanius identifies at 180D-81C?

2. Does Pausanius support making laws - either legal or moral - about erotic relationships? Why or why not? (181E-82A)

3. Pausanius describes love as a kind of exchange, one which can be either good or bad. Explain what makes an exchange good or bad at 183E-84E. What kind of offer should one always accept, and what exactly should you give in trade (185A-C)

Answer 1

1)Pausanius is the lover of Agnathon. He participated in a symposium and disputed Phaedrus claim that love is single in nature. There are two Aphrodites so there are two forms of love. One is the elder one who is the daughter of Uranus. The other one is the younger who is daughter of Zeus and Dione called as younger Aphrodite.

2)Pausanius discussed erotic relationships in life. They emerge due to yielding nature of lovers and oppression by legislation and rulers while enacting the laws in society. It was supported by him in the city of Polis before making ideal scenarios for people to live without suppression and hostile behavior from people in the society. He formed sexual congress between erastes and eromenos.

3)He found that sexual favors can be exchanged between erastes and eromenos but education is very important and paramount in society. It is education which is of primary importance and strict social laws restrict the spread of sexual love in society.Sunousia contains erotic elements which contains enculturation and links of Athenian men with the older men in the society. There is exchange of love between erastes and eromenos. It is an exchange of sexual companionship and sexual gratification. The mutual exchange will consist of education in gymnastics for eromenos and erastes will receive sexual gratification and enjoyment. There was exchange on knowledge for money in trade.