During his final speech to praise love in Plato's Symposium, Socrates describes many aspects of the true nature of Love and the objects of Love's desires. By systematically contradicting and invalidating the preceding arguments, Socrates establishes a contrast between the ideas of love and beauty; love being the state of pursuing a goal, while beauty is the goal itself. Prior to Socrates' speech, the general consensus among the attendants at the party is that Love …showed first 75 words of 898 total…

…showed last 75 words of 898 total…his description of love both physically and mentally, Socrates serves to establish his own case firmly. In addition, his description of the hierarchy of love elevates his view of Love far above those expressed in prior speeches. His clear contrast between Love as the process of seeking beauty, and beauty as the ultimate goal of Love, also shows the inherent difficulty in seeking pure beauty and in being able to give birth to immortal virtue.