The Symposium and the Phaedrus are combined here because of their shared theme: a reflection on the nature of erotic love, the love that begins with sexual desire but can transcend that origin and reach even the heights of religious ecstasy. This reflection is carried out explicitly in the speeches and conversations in the dialogues, and implicitly in the dramatic depiction of actions and characters. Thus, the two dialogues deal with a theme of enduring interest and are interesting for both their literary and their philosophical character.

In addition to the introduction, the book...

This textbook provides a comprehensive, state-of-the art review of the field of hernia surgery, and will serve as a valuable resource for clinicians, surgeons and researchers with an interest in both inguinal and ventral/incisional hernia. This book provides an overview of the current understanding of the biologic basis of hernia formation as well as laying the foundation for the importance of hernia research and evaluating outcomes in hernia repair. Diagnosis and management strategies for inguinal and ventral hernia are discussed in detail with separate techniques sections for the most...