Plato's Symposium

Turia Pitt, a woman from Australia suffered burns over her face and body, her beauty was gone; however, her fiancé Michael Hoskins did not leave her because he fell in love with her inner beauty. (Sinha) Michael found the true meaning of love and although her physical beauty was gone, he stayed by her side because of her personality. In Symposium by Plato which is a work of different speeches from men on their interpretation of eros- love. Plato uses a conversation between Socrates and Diotima to explain the concept of beauty. Diotima was a coach to Socrates in his understanding of what the true meaning of love. Through, their conversation Plato stressed that when physical beauty fads all that is left is inner beauty. Plato’s analog is still

prevalent today and seen across many cultures that unlike outer beauty, inner beauty is universal. Universal beauty is altruistic, sympathetic, honorable, generous and intellectual.
Unselfishness, is true beauty which spans many culture and lifetimes.

A person who is unselfish is willing to put others above themselves without wanting anything in return. This type of beauty, I witness first hand as my aunt gave up twenty years of her life to care for my grandparents. She took care of my grandparents with little to no help from her sisters or caregivers. The care she provided my grandparents was back-breaking, and she spend many sleeplessness nights making sure my grandmother was breathing or not up wandering the halls. To my grandparents, she was their dietitian, physical therapist, nurse, cook and housekeeper. Although, she is now in her sixties and some of her outward beauty has faded, and her circles under her eyes are dark, she is the most beautiful woman to me because she gave of herself benevolently to her parents without any reward. She exemplifies what is means to truly be

beautiful.
A widespread view of beauty is gentleness. “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit” (1Peter 3:3-4). My faith taught me that to truly be beautiful on the outside does not matter, but if one is gentle towards others then they are beautiful. I once dated a physically attractive man, and I thought he was that so beautiful and our love would never dissipate. However, one day while we were on vacation in San Francisco, he yelled at a homeless man that was only asking for a quarter. In that moment all that I found to be beautiful in this man was gone, no longer did I think that he was beautiful, he had no gentleness to him. His outward appearance was appeasing, but he did not exude inner beauty.
An intellectual mind radiates beauty. In Plato he writes, “…even if someone is almost entirely lacking the bloom of youth, but still has an attractive mind, that’s enough to kindle his love and affection” (Plato 54). Plato shows here that no matter how old an individual is, if they have an “attractive mind” they in return are attractive. A person who is educated or on the quest for knowledge is attractive as Plato would argue. I, personally know many people who are beautiful because of their minds and how much they are versed in many things. I found myself wonder why this nurse I worked with looked twenty years past her age. Why had her beauty left her? I wondered initially. I was not until I began to work with this woman all the time and received her years of knowledge and expertise that she slowly became more beautiful. I worked with her for three years, and by the time I left she did not look like the initial old lady that I began to work with, instead I noticed her beauty in her mind. She was able to teach my a vast array of information about labor and delivery, which I never would have received, if it was not for her inner beauty radiating through her mind.
Trustworthiness is a major component of one’s inner beauty. If a person cannot be trusted, how can they beautiful? The ability for a person to be trusted by peers or loved ones shows beauty, which surpasses straight teeth. Most people want a partner that is faithful to them and they can rely on. My first boyfriend was a liar. He lied to me all the time. One day, I found another woman’s number in his pocket. I asked him about the number and he told me it was about a new job; however, I later found out that it was for his new girlfriend. No one wants to be with a liar, they are not pretty people. As an adult, I want to be with a person that is beautiful inside. Honest, is a trait the people with internal beauty have, and it exudes from the aura.
True beauty is generous. A truly beautiful person is willing to go out of their way for others. Unlike the generosity of the rich for a tax break, a truly generous person is willing to give their last, so another person would be comfortable. My friend exhibits this beauty, she is always willing to give her last to help someone. She helped me when I had just got out of the Air Force and could not get home to see my Grandmother before her passing; however, my friend loaned me one hundred dollars to get home to see my grandmother. Although, her rent was coming due she was still able to help me. She showed me her true beauty in her generosity.
Although, many may argue that outer beauty is universal this is not true.

Outward beauty in America is not a standard for a country in African or Tonga where access to media sources are limited. American values slim women with light skin, straight hair and European features as beautiful, whereas some other countries find a woman is beautiful if she has wide hips and a darker complexion. However, America’s requirements are slowly spreading across the world because of media. Women now are bleaching their skin, obtaining plastic surgery to be skinner and look more European. But the change of an outward appearance does not correlate to a person’s inner beauty. Yes, some people are only fixated on a person’s outward appearance, but looks do not last forever, and outward beauty is not

universal.
As a young girl, I struggled with what I perceived to be beautiful, I was blinded by the media’s interpretation of what they thought was beauty. I remember being about fourteen hating my skin color, hating my hair texture and hating my figure because I did not look like the girls in the magazine. I hating the fact that no matter how much I tried, I would not look like them. I grew up insecure with my looks and the idea that any man would love me because I didn’t look like other women. I wish, I could have read and comprehended Plato’s Symposium, so I could have understood that a mature person can view past the outward appearance to a person’s true beauty. Although, I reached this revelation before Plato’s it is a shocker that is insight was written so many years ago and is relevant today.
Outer beauty is the outward appearance of a person, and is completely subjective from person to person. However, inner beauty is a standard across the world. Have you seen a couple and wonder why what person is with an unattractive person? Well there are two reasons for that, one is your interpretation of what is beautiful is different than another person. Also, beauty is truly measured by a person’s inner sprit and actions. The standards of inner beauty are universal across many lifetimes. I want people to realize the importance of Plato’s work from centuries ago, and acknowledge that true beauty not superficial beauty is universal and last a lifetime. When the physical beauty has faded the only essential beauty, inner, is left. As Aubrey Hepburn said, “True beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It is the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows, and the beauty of a woman with passing years only grows” (What is inner beauty).