What is the origin of the phrase "platonic relationship"? Did Plato actually describe nonsexual male-female relationships?
by 
LynfromNM
ANSWERS: 2
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Actually, as far as I know, the original use of the term "Platonic", was in Plato's endeavor to find a definition for his relationships with young boys. The term "Platonic Love" is widely credited to Plato. Although I don't think that Plato's original intentions for the term were precisely the same as how it is used in modern times.
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I think the meaning has been corrupted a bit. Originally "Platonic love" simply meant a higher type of love as opposed to carnal/ physical love ("lust" if you will). So correctly-speaking the term "platonic" not only describes non-sexual male-female relationships but also non-sexual male-male and female-female relationships/ friendships. In it's truer sense Platonic love is now more commonly referred as "a meeting of minds".
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