Phaedrus (Plato)

Plot summary

Socrates and Phaedrus run into one another walking about the Athenian countryside. After some talk, Phaedrus reads aloud a speech written by Lysias on the subject of love. Lysias writes that a boy should have a relationship with a man who is not in love with him, as opposed to one who is. Socrates sarcastically praises the speech, and then composes one himself on the same subject. His is superior, as Phaedrus admits. However, Socrates declares it blasphemous, because love is from the gods. Socrates then gives a speech on why love is good, which in essence says that love is necessary for the souls of mankind to return to heaven. Phaedrus praises the speech and asks Socrates how to make a good speech. The rest of the dialogue is Socrates and Phaedrus discussing how to best make a speech.