Foucault's analysis of Platonic erotics brings him to an extremely complicated domain of classical ancient philosophy, and one that can be discussed from a number of angles. In the ‘relation to truth’ he sees the decisive new perspective Plato introduces into the classical Greek theory on love.

Within this new framework of erotics Foucault correctly diagnoses a series of fundamental shifts in the problematisation of love in the relevant Platonic dialogues, in particular the transition

• from the question of behaviour in love, to the question of the nature of love;

• from the question of the honour of the boy, to the question of the love of truth;

• from the question of the asymmetry of erotic relationships, to the question of the convergence of mutual love;

• from the question of the virtue of the beloved, to the question of love for the master and his virtue.