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.
who is credited with having coined the term platonic love
William Davenant