Socratic dialogue on beauty

Characters

Socrates: John Donahue

Athena: Angela Streeper

Aphrodite: Katie Noga

This Socratic dialogue takes place in ancient times in two different settings: Athens and Mount Olympus. Athena and Aphrodite are, as usual, bickering over who is more beautiful. The two goddesses just can’t figure it out! So, they summon the wisest man in all of Greece to settle their disagreement. However, Athena and Aphrodite get more than they bargained for. Through Socrates’ questioning, they’ll discover what beauty is.

(In the gymnasium in Ancient Athens, Socrates is speaking to the citizens [our class]. He is telling them about the time that he took part in resolving one of the gods’ many fights.)

Socrates: (to class) Not only do I appeal to those on Earth, I appeal to those above. Let me tell you a tale of when the gods themselves summoned me, Socrates, to their home. Imagine yourself on Mount Olympus, a place more gorgeous and entrancing than anything you’ve ever envisioned. There our patron goddess and her sister are having a (laughs) a minor squabble.

(The halls of Mount Olympus.)

(Aphrodite is fawning over her reflection in a handheld mirror while Athena sits nearby reading a book.)

Athena: (sighs and rolls her eyes)

Aphrodite: (notices that Athena is becoming annoyed) Oh, I just don’t know what to do with myself!

Athena: What?

Aphrodite: (holds mirror away) I’m so beautiful it’s scary! I’m the fairest in all the land; no one could be more beautiful than I! So, it gets boring sometimes. I have no competition.

Athena: (scoffs) Oh yeah? (Stands up) What about me? The gorgeous goddess of wisdom!

Aphrodite: Puh-lease! Gorgeous? You’re Medusa!

Athena: (Ignoring her) My hair’s as soft and as beautiful as the Golden Fleece.

Aphrodite: Who cares about your hair! My eyes are like two precious gems!

Athena: That’s what you think!

Aphrodite: Hmph! You’re just jealous of me because you’ll never achieve my level of beauty, no matter how hard you try! I am the goddess of beauty after all!

Athena: I bet you don’t even know what beauty is!

Aphrodite: It’s…it’s…wait a second! You tell me what beauty is, Miss goddess of wisdom!

Athena: I’m not even going to waste my time telling you what I think beauty is; I’ll get someone who knows what beauty is!

Aphrodite: Who?

Athena: The smartest man in all of Greece: the great Socrates.

Aphrodite: Bring it on. First I will ask him who is more beautiful. Me or you.

(Socrates now magically appeared on Mount Olympus. He appears reading a book. He notices that his surroundings are now different.)

Socrates: (looks up surprised) What? Where am I?

Athena: Mount Olympus.

Socrates: Athena and Aphrodite? I can’t believe—

Aphrodite: Hold it. We didn’t bring you here for small talk.

Athena: We have to ask you an important question.

Socrates: (bows) Anything my goddesses.

Athena: It’s—

Aphrodite: (interrupts her) Who’s more beautiful?

Socrates: (laughs) Well, I could tell you, but what is it?

Both: Huh?

Socrates: Do you know what beauty is, Aphrodite?

Aphrodite: Well, yes. It’s being lovely and fair. Having nice hair and eyes. Not to mention a great body too.

Socrates: My goddess, don’t you think there’s more to beauty than just appearances? And you, Athena: what do you think beauty is?

Athena: Socrates, you’re correct about appearances not being everything, but, what more do you need than to gaze upon the beauty of a goddess.

Socrates: You’re right in a way. (They smirk) But do you believe that physical beauty is all that matters?

Aphrodite: Of course!

Athena: (unsure) I suppose there are other forms of beauty.

Socrates: Yes! Now tell me, Aphrodite, what do you find beautiful?

Aphrodite: Me.

Athena: (shakes her head) No! That’s not what he’s talking about. If your mind can process this, he’s talking about the essence of beauty.

Socrates: Yes! Now that’s more on the lines of what I am trying to convey. There’s more to beauty than what the eyes see. Both of you, close your eyes.

Athena: What good would that do, Socrates?

Socrates: Trust me. (They both close their eyes) Tell me what you just heard.

Athena: Apollo playing his lyre.

Aphrodite: Nothing special.

Socrates: Okay, okay. I know you hear it everyday, but doesn’t the music touch your ears in a pleasing way?

Athena: I guess so, but—

Socrates: But, isn’t the sound beautiful?

Aphrodite: Sound can be beautiful?

Both: I’m confused!!!

Aphrodite: (Holds her head) My brain hurts!

Athena: Wait, are you trying to say that beauty comes in many different forms?

Socrates: Well, my goddess, do not our senses enable us to perceive and enjoy beauty in many various ways?

Aphrodite: What do you mean?

Athena: (seems to be grasping the situation)

Socrates: (waves a flower under their noses) Do you smell the sweet fragrance of the divine ambrosia?

Athena: (realizes) It’s beautiful!

Aphrodite: (grudgingly) Yeah, I guess so.

Socrates: Do you see now? Can’t your senses lead you to distinguish other things that are beautiful?

Athena: Oh, Socrates, that’s true!

Aphrodite: Yeah.

Socrates: And what about the beauty of the soul?

Aphrodite: Like inner beauty?

Socrates: Yes. Could not the lowliest and ugliest beggar have a beautiful soul?

Athena: Or a beautiful mind?

Socrates: Exactly!

Aphrodite: That’s kind of like you Socrates!

Socrates: Please explain, my lady.

Aphrodite: You have beautiful mind and soul, but on the outside you’re just some decrepit old man!

Socrates: I suppose you are right there. (Sarcastically) The gods never make mistakes.

Athena: Socrates, it seems like we have learned a great deal from you. There are indeed many degrees and definitions of beauty.

Aphrodite: And things that we recognize with our senses can also be beautiful.

Athena: Plus, people can have beautiful souls and minds.

Aphrodite: And that makes beauty something other than just looks.

Socrates: Ah, the wisdom of the goddesses!

Athena: Socrates, you have served us well.

Aphrodite: Now you may return to Athens to continue your studies.

(Socrates leaves)

Athena: Well, Aphrodite, I suppose we have settled our disagreement about who is more beautiful than the other.

Aphrodite: Excuse me?

Athena: (surprised) What? Aphrodite, didn’t you learn anything from the wise and great Socrates?

Aphrodite: (picks up her mirror) Puh-lease!

Athena: You are such a ditz.

Aphrodite: Bookworm.(walks out)

Athena: (sighs heavily) She’ll never learn.

The End

Times we met

Wednesday, February 19, 2003: 50 minutes. (John, Angela, and Katie; classroom)

Friday, February 21, 2003: 90 minutes. (John, Angela, and Katie; classroom/library)

Monday, February 24, 2003: 50 minutes. (John and Katie; classroom)

Wednesday, February 26, 2003: 50 minutes. (John, Angela, and Katie; classroom)

Total Time: 240 minutes.