Forest will use the roundtable approach to examine and discuss selections from one of Plato’s most well-known dialogues, Symposium, sometimes titled The Drinking Party.
Plato has a character relate a story he heard from someone else about a drinking party held years earlier celebrating a dramatic victory by one of the participants. A guest proposes that as a way of coping with hangovers they have from the night before, they ease up on the drinking and each speak in praise of the god of love. This they do; but Socrates, speaking last, turns it into a philosophical exploration of the nature of beauty.
Feedback from Forest’s last course:
“Forest Hansen is a gem of a teacher. I will be signing up for his next Socrates course and any others I can access via Zoom.”
“Forest Hansen is one of the most pleasant course leaders…we should have him again and again as long as he is willing to lead courses!!!”
“This was a very positive, constructive, and provocative introduction to a big topic. The highly qualified and experienced instructor never overshadowed the participants. It was a pleasant and soft discussion all along with great questions (gentler than Socrates himself) for us all to discuss fruitfully. I personally was stimulated, informed, and enriched throughout the three sessions. The time required was not excessive, the sessions fun, and the effects are long-lasting.”
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