The Symposium

우리가 요즘에는 “학회”라는 의미로 쓰는 Symposium은 원래 향연, 즉 손님들을 초대해서 융숭하게 대접하는 잔치, 다시 말해 거나하게 취하는 파티였습니다. 술에 취해 딸꾹질을 하느라 말할 순서를 양보하기도 하고 뒤늦게 잔치에 온 젊은이를 환영하기도 하면서 소크라테스를 비롯한 고대의 희랍인들이 나눈 온갖 이야기들의 주제는 다름 아닌 “사랑”이었습니다.

“Because he is the son of Resource and Poverty, Love’s situation is like this. First of all, he’s always poor: far from being sensitive and beautiful, as is commonly supposed, he’s tough, with hardened skin, without shoes or home. He always sleeps rough, on the ground, with no bed, lying in doorways and by roads in the open air; sharing his mother’s nature, he always lives in a state of need. On the other hand, taking after his father, he schemes to get hold of beautiful and good things. He’s rave, impetuous and intense; a formidable hunter, always weaving tricks; he desires knowledge and is resourceful in getting it; a lifelong lover of wisdom; cleaver at using magic, drugs and sophistry.”