<P> The English term dates back to William Davenant 's The Platonic Lovers ( performed in 1635 ) ; a critique of the philosophy of platonic love which was popular at Charles I 's court . It is derived from the concept in Plato 's Symposium of the love of the idea of good which lies at the root of all virtue and truth . For a brief period , Platonic love was a fashionable subject at the English royal court , especially in the circle around Queen Henrietta Maria , the wife of King Charles I. Platonic love was the theme of some of the courtly masques performed in the Caroline era -- though the fashion soon waned under pressures of social and political change . </P>
<P> The English term dates back to William Davenant 's The Platonic Lovers ( performed in 1635 ) ; a critique of the philosophy of platonic love which was popular at Charles I 's court . It is derived from the concept in Plato 's Symposium of the love of the idea of good which lies at the root of all virtue and truth . For a brief period , Platonic love was a fashionable subject at the English royal court , especially in the circle around Queen Henrietta Maria , the wife of King Charles I. Platonic love was the theme of some of the courtly masques performed in the Caroline era -- though the fashion soon waned under pressures of social and political change . </P>
who is credited with having coined the term platonic love
who is credited with having coined the term platonic love
William Davenant
William Davenant