Final answer:
The term 'Platonic love' was coined by Plato, an ancient Greek philosopher. It describes a non-physical, spiritual love focused on moral beauty and truth, often related to necessary and sufficient conditions to grasp its essence.
Step-by-step explanation:
The scholar who coined the term "Platonic love" is Plato, an ancient Greek philosopher who mapped out a specific kind of idealized love through his philosophies. This form of love is described as being dedicatedly platonic, meaning it is never consummated and exists on a higher moral plane, focusing on the intellectual or spiritual connection rather than physical or romantic entanglement. The term itself has been applied throughout history in literature, poetry, and songs as a model for chivalrous love, like that in the court of King Arthur and the tangled relations between Arthur, Lancelot, and Guinevere. Plato's musings on love and its essence can be observed in his dialogues, such as in Phaedrus, which is included in 'Plato Complete Works' edited by John M. Cooper. Platonic love ventures to understand love as a pure form in search of truth and beauty, often analyzed within the framework of necessary and sufficient conditions.