THE BEAUTIFUL SAPPHO: EROS AND MANIA IN PLATO’S PHAEDRUS

Abstract

The relationship between Plato and the poets has prompted numerous reflections throughout the history of philosophy. One of the privileged dialogues for understanding this relationship has been the Phaedrus, as beauty, writing, and language are domains where philosophy and poetry converge. It is not surprising, then, that there are several allusions to poets from the epic and lyric tradition such as Homer, Stesichorus, and Sappho. We will argue here that the reference to Sappho in the Phaedrus, unique in the entire Platonic corpus, implies a commitment to the feminine poetic and erotic tradition, an understanding of it as a proto-philosophical stage, and the acknowledgment of Sappho’s influence on Plato’s conception of Eros. In this way, not only does the consideration of the relationship between Plato and the poets expand, but it also incorporates a perspective that has not been sufficiently addressed, namely, the feminine contribution to Platonic thought.