Question

The mention of pregnancy in Plato's Symposium introduces a theme that reappears in other Platonic dialogues. What does Diotima mean by saying that people are pregnant? Are there different kinds of pregnancy? What does this have to do with Socrates' claim in another Platonic dialogue, Theatetus, that he is a midwife?

Answer 1

Diotima uses the concept of pregnancy metaphorically to explain acquiring knowledge and reaching understanding in Plato's Symposium.

Step-by-step explanation:

In Plato's Symposium, Diotima uses the concept of pregnancy metaphorically to explain the process of acquiring knowledge and reaching understanding. When she says people are pregnant, she means that our minds are filled with ideas and potential knowledge, and through questioning and inquiry, we can give birth to new insights and understanding. This idea of intellectual pregnancy also ties into Socrates' claim in Theatetus that he is a midwife, as it emphasizes the role of the philosopher in assisting others in the process of uncovering truth and knowledge.