Summary
Ivan Cvitanušić: The Secret Doctrine of the Philosopher Plato on Intercourse with Women
A novel framed by the story of the writer Antef's fascination with a woman as such, but also a woman-reader, who takes him to the royal library, where after the fire in which the Library of Alexandria burned down, copies of the original works of the most important ancient philosophers were stored, and there is also a mysterious scroll hidden in a golden cup. That scroll contains a text about Agathon and the priestess Diotima, who, in the company of Socrates, go to Aphrodite's temple, discussing the delights of love, and the difference between ordinary, earthly and physical beauty, and divine and immortal beauty. In their conversation, fundamental metaphysical and existential problems emerge, and the manner in which they were posed and tried to be solved by ancient philosophers, priests, politicians, military leaders and writers is touched upon.
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