Lovers of philosophy, of the laws, of spectacles, of boys, of the demos, of immortality, of beauty, of the Good, good lovers, bad lovers, mad lovers, tyrannical lovers, shoeless lovers and lovers with shoes… What should we make of eros in Plato’s dialogues? Is there one single theory of eros or do different dialogues offer different perspectives and theories? Is eros a rational desire for the Good, a maddening sexual passion, or a malleable desire and motivational source? This seminar will focus on Plato’s Symposium, Phaedrus, and on passages from Book VI and IX of the Republic in order to investigate the nature of eros, and its relation to madness and philosophy.