The Myth of the Missing Half

Since the beginning of time human beings have been yearning for their other halves, the bit that’s missing. In Plato’s dialogue The Symposium, Aristophanes presented a light-hearted creation myth that explains it all.

Narrated by Aidan Turner. Scripted by Nigel Warburton.

From the BBC Radio 4 series about life's big questions - A History of Ideas.

This project is from the BBC in partnership with The Open University, the animations were created by Cognitive.

[jakewells]

can't seem to find any flaws in this logic

[melissaaguilar]

Beautiful... Totally obsessed with all these little vids about myths and greek phillosophers of yours!

[asmallnerdinabigworld]

I've always heard this myth with the male/male and female/female couples left out, I wonder why?

On a less sarcastic note I love that the BBC is telling the full version :)

[pope]

There's a huge amount of information and detail that's left out of this.

[CDHfilms]

I think some websites call this creature the "Androgynus" and sometimes it's depicted with 2 heads rather than just 1 with 2 faces.

[younot]

0:55 it was that the gods feared they were so wholesome that there’d be no need for prayer and servicing them

[Okay-eevb]

I’ve heard of this myth in my catholic class but a little different...
They were stuck to each other at their tummy and that’s why we have a navel!

[kendrathomas]

Super interesting. I can not help but think something is missing and I want to fill in the missing gaps.

[elcidgaming]

so conjoined twins are completely normal I knew it

[suumcuique]

It is a story full of symbolism. You can get wiser when you try to interpret myths and you it is also good to think about this myth.
But I don’t know if there is just one other half for a person. This myth could also imply you to think that you can not become whole or be in unity with yourself and the devine when you do not find your other half.

So I also see some interpretations of this myth as problematic, lets say I am not the biggest fan. But maybe has truth to it, but I personally doubt it.

[nopeacewithoutjustice]

I searched “why people love Greek myths” and just got schooled on twin flames, a topic I’ve been devastatingly trying to avoid for those who know what I mean 🙃

[stefaniablas]

CAN YOU PLEASE PLEASE TELL ME IF THERES A MOVIE BASED ON THIS MYTH?!?! i lovveee this story

[aboycalledfish]

This just confirms to me that asexual people already have both souls and are therefore just happy with themselves :)

[rodersam]

It's awesome definition about history

[loicmarrierdunienville]

Very interesting continue the good work!

[ceceegan]

anyone else here because of Hedwig and the Angry Inch just curious

[VoDucQuang]

I guess no one here read the "Symposium" and realized Aristophanes was just justifying his lust with this myth.

[umqcbbj]

Doesn't this directly oppose the story of Pandora? She was a singular individual and was not attached to her lover. Evolution?

[tenzindechen]

Honestly his is the only speech i understood....clearly

[Adrian-ppqy]

In the meantime siamese twins are rolling towards the setting sun in happiness.