In the words of Plato “Love is simply the name for the desire and pursuit of the whole”.

In Plato's "Symposium," love is explained as a deep desire for a meaningful life and

understanding the ultimate purpose of everything. It's like a journey that changes us profoundly

and can seem a bit crazy because it disrupts our usual habits and thoughts. For example,

let’s say you live a typically conventional and routine life. You go to work, socialize with

friends, and generally follow the expectations of society. Life is comfortable, but there's a sense

of emptiness and a lack of deeper meaning. One day, you meet someone. This encounter sparks a

romantic attraction, and you fall deeply in love. However, in the context of Plato's philosophy as

presented in the "Symposium," this love is not just about the emotions and the attraction to

the physical appearance. It goes beyond that; it becomes a transformative force in your life.

Your love for that person awakens a profound desire for meaning. It's no longer just about the

romantic relationship; it's about understanding why love itself is so important and what it

means for one’s existence. This love begins to change you. You start to become more considerate,

compassionate, and selfless. You are inspired to improve yourself, not just for your partner but

to become a better person in general. Love disrupts your usual habits. You might find

yourself questioning the materialistic pursuits that used to define your life, such as a focus on

career success or material possessions. This can be unsettling as it challenges the familiar path.

As you delve deeper into your love for your partner, you begin to contemplate the nature

of love itself. You explore philosophical questions about the purpose of love,

the role it plays in human existence, and how it connects to larger concepts like beauty and

truth.Through this journey, you gradually realize that love, as Plato describes it, is a means to

access a higher understanding of life's purpose. It's not just about loving one person; it's about

tapping into a universal force that drives us towards greater wisdom and enlightenment.

Love is often seen as an emotion or something related to our relationships with people,

which is true, but Plato believed it goes much deeper. Love is the desire to fill a missing part

of ourselves. Plato talked about an ancient idea that humans were once one being, and love is the

longing to reunite with that lost unity. This idea of love leads us through different stages, like

climbing a ladder, with each rung representing a step towards finding the highest meaning:

Step 1 Physical Attraction: At first, we're attracted to someone's physical appearance—like

their eyes or their smile. But this level has problems because physical beauty changes,

and there's nothing entirely unique about it. Step 2 Beauty of Personality: This next step is

to appreciate someone's inner beauty—the beauty of their personality and soul.

Step 3 Beauty of Knowledge: As we go further, we realize that individual personalities are not

enough. We start seeking the beauty in knowledge and the universal truths that explain the world.

And finally,Step 4 Ultimate Beauty: The final step is to love the highest Beauty itself,

which is the ultimate source of meaning and harmony in the universe.

This "Ladder of Love" shows that love is the driving force behind everything we do, think,

and desire. It encourages us to seek meaning at every stage of our journey. In our modern lives,

where many people feel anxious and lost, understanding love in this way can help.

This definition of love is not only limited to our romantic pursuits but with everything we do.

Anxiety and loss of meaning are widely known for modern day people. We believe

that a Platonic understanding of love can help us in that kind of situation. For example,

when you lose your job or something that appears to be the source of meaning,

your first step cant be hopeless disappointment, but rather you should attempt to rebuild the

Ladder of your love. Find something that catches your attention and just follow it. For example,

let’s say you are passionate about collecting rare stamps. Concentrate your attention on it and find

out the final desire that lies behind this hobby. It can be a hidden love of History, Geography,

Politics and so on. The only thing you need to change and rule your destiny is attention to your

love in small things. When you face challenges or lose something that seems meaningful, you can

rebuild your sense of purpose by paying attention to what you love, no matter how small it may seem.

It's a path that can lead you to discover the deeper meaning in everything around you.