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As I listened to Geoffrey R. Edwards’ narration of Plato’s “Symposium” during my morning walks through the Berkeley hills, I was struck by how this ancient text continues to resonate across millennia. The golden morning light filtering through eucalyptus trees created the perfect ambiance to contemplate Diotima’s Ladder of Love, making me reflect on how we still ascend that same philosophical path today, albeit in different cultural contexts.
Edwards’ narration brings remarkable clarity to this complex dialogue. His ability to distinguish between the various speakers – from the comic irreverence of Aristophanes to the measured wisdom of Socrates – creates an auditory tapestry that helps modern listeners navigate the symposium’s layered structure. I particularly appreciated how he handled Alcibiades’ drunken entrance; the slight slurring and emotional rawness in his voice perfectly captured the disruptive energy of this pivotal moment.
What fascinates me most is how this audiobook format illuminates aspects of the text that might escape silent reading. The performative nature of the original symposium – a series of speeches given at a drinking party – comes alive through Edwards’ delivery. This reminded me of my graduate school days at Harvard, when our philosophy study group would read these dialogues aloud, each taking different roles. The audiobook recreates that communal experience in solitary listening.
Through a cultural lens, Edwards’ British accent adds an interesting layer to this ancient Greek text. While some might prefer a narrator with Greek inflection, I found his Received Pronunciation lent an appropriate scholarly distance, allowing the ideas to shine without exoticization. The audio quality (especially impressive for a free LibriVox production) maintains consistent clarity throughout, though listeners should note this is a single-narrator performance rather than a full-cast dramatization.
The heart of this audiobook’s success lies in how it handles Plato’s central themes. Edwards’ pacing during Socrates’ recounting of Diotima’s wisdom allows space for contemplation – crucial when discussing the ascent from physical beauty to the Form of Beauty itself. His narration makes abstract concepts tactile, much like my favorite philosophy professors did during office hours, where complex ideas suddenly became luminous through careful explanation.
Some limitations bear mentioning. The absence of scholarly footnotes (understandable in an audio format) means listeners unfamiliar with ancient Greek culture might benefit from supplemental reading. Also, while Edwards handles the Greek names with confidence, the pronunciation occasionally wavers between ancient and modern Greek conventions. These are minor quibbles for what is otherwise an exceptional free resource.
Compared to other philosophical audiobooks I’ve reviewed – from Marcus Aurelius’ “Meditations” to contemporary works like Martha Nussbaum’s “Upheavals of Thought” – this “Symposium” stands out for its balance of intellectual rigor and emotional resonance. It captures what I often tell my students: that the best philosophy never divorces reason from passion, just as love itself unites these seemingly opposing forces.
For potential listeners, I’d recommend this audiobook particularly to:
1. Philosophy students seeking an accessible entry point to Platonic dialogues
2. Book clubs interested in cross-cultural discussions about love’s nature
3. Writers looking to understand the roots of Western thought about desire
4. Commuters who want to transform travel time into philosophical contemplation
Having taught this text in three different countries, I can attest that Edwards’ narration captures the universal quality that makes “Symposium” endure. Whether you’re hearing it for the first time or the fiftieth, there’s always new wisdom to uncover, like the layers of an ancient palimpsest. The free availability through LibriVox makes this philosophical treasure accessible to all – a democratic approach to knowledge that I think Plato himself might have appreciated.
In pursuit of beauty and wisdom,
Prof. Emily Chen
