1. Does love bring out the best in us? : Phaedrus suggests that an army made up of lovers would both bring out the best in each soldier and make the army as a whole stronger than any other. This raises two questions. Does (erotic or romantic) love generally make us better human beings? And does such love make us better members of our wider communities for instance, better citizens?
In Phaedrus' speech, he states that love is a powerful emotion that can drive us to become the best versions of ourselves. Experiencing the emotion of love can have a positive impact on our personality and our response to life's tribulations.
In regard to the statement above, I believe that erotic love for the most can make us better human beings. Sharing romantic love with a partner can have a major impact on our actions. This view is supported by Phaedrus, who states that "we see this same thing too in the beloved, that it is especially before his lovers that he feels shame when seen in something shameful." (178e) As humans, we become more thoughtful of our actions when they become an issue for criticism by a lover. I believe that the ability to feel shame for one's actions shows consideration for another person's feelings. With this in mind, love can shape us into better individuals, allowing us to make more rational decisions by evaluating the effect of our actions on someone else's life. We are less likely to engage in activities that may cause emotional, physical or mental harm to a person. Romantic love, therefore, allows for self-reflection of our actions. From my own personal knowledge...