Platos symposium digs deeper into the idea of love and bringing different interpretations and points of view in order to define love. At lake scugog and 2006s tom thomson in purgatory, which won the national. An introduction to philosophy open textbook library. The idea of philosophy goes all the way back to ancient greece. This essay focuses on personal love, or the love of particular persons as such. Solomon, the angloamerican philosopher, who takes continental philosophy seriously, is the editor here, not the author. Philosophers have indeed provided systematic theories of history, justice, the state, the natural world, knowledge, love, friendship. Thus taught most of the major figures of ancient philosophy, including plato, aristotle, and the tao te ching. Reviews this is an exceptional book for any instructor who is looking for a rare, opinionated introductory text in the philosophy of sex and love that is not an anthology. Part of the philosophical task in understanding personal love is to distinguish the various kinds of personal love. The natural philosophy of love and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. The passage on the love between a man and a boy raises the question, what does love have to do with education. A new psychology of love, traditional values and spiritual growth paperback by. She served as copresident of the society for the philosophy of sex and love from 2008 to 2018, and is the author of moral reasoning in a pluralistic world 2015.
Such questions are often posed as problems to be studied or resolved. Jan 08, 2020 love is the joy of the good, the wonder of the wise, the amazement of the gods. Feb 04, 2002 discussion of samesex love at an athenian drinking party. This book can be used as a tool to provoke some very important and essential questions to children. A neglected library leads to love in american philosophy. Love is such a central theme in the work of philosophy from the ancients to the present day, but its quite rare for it to be pulled out. A neglected library leads to love in american philosophy john kaags new memoirslashphilosophical treatise begins at a low point in his life, and follows his quest for answers to a dusty old. Love you forever describes the importance of love and the reciprocity of love and its need for fulfillment and happiness. Support the crowd source campaign to publish a ebook, and distribute it for free. We provide practical tools and techniques that help adults achieve respectful, healthy relationships with their children. Nov 18, 2001 love is the ultimate vulnerability, but philosophy, religion and art throughout time have pictured it instead as a path to a higher level of existence beyond the pain and vicissitude of the everyday.
Leaves you thinking more about life and family and the things that matter most. Engaging in philosophical thinking is, under this perspective. Plato on true love platos account of true love is still the most subtle and beautiful there is. The philosophy of intimacy new ed by armstrong, john isbn.
Kaag, the quiet, retiring academic whos written a book that explores american philosophy largely through the story that led to his second marriage, believes it can be worked through by way of love. Discussion of samesex love at an athenian drinking party. The book starts with a number of writers introducing altaf hussain as a great teacher leader, philosopher, academic most of his books were taken away by the military establishment, business man, entrepreneur. Love examines the nature of romantic love and how it differs from other types of love, such as friendship and parental love. The first two chapters describe the nature of philosophy and the place of logic and concepts like truth, while subsequent chapters focus on two key periods in the history of philosophy ancient greece and early modernity, and core themes in the philosophy of mind, philosophy of science, love, happiness, metaethics, and the question of. To some, philosophys goal is a systematic worldview.
It brings together philosophy with cultural analysis to provide an accessible and engaging account of conventional theories of love as well as the controversial reformulations evident in samesex desire, crosscultural love and internet romance. A partial summingup the irving singer library by irving singer, alan soble isbn. This wonderfully eclectic book surveys the western perspectives on romantic and erotic love, starting in antiquity and. Apr 18, 2011 the book is bestread in tandem with the new psychology of love, the 2008 followup to the original title a priceless parallel that captures how scientific and technological innovation has improved and, in some cases, shifted our understanding of loves psychological underbelly, and perhaps more importantly, the curious fact that nearly. Loyalty was the animating spirit of love, he writes. This is the first philosophy essay forming a series under the name. May 11, 2018 its equally all right if the first book of philosophy you encountered was epictetus enchiridion. The ghost of madness 19211970, focuses on russells relationship with his son, john published. I consider this book a great contribution to the philosophy of love, sex, and marriage. Philosophy from greek, philosophia, literally love of wisdom is the study of general and fundamental questions about existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Whatever is your life, whether you are a motor mechanic, a dentist, or an astronaut, says bradley.
How a philosophy professor found love in a hidden library. The first part of the term philosophy philos is easy to understand which denotes a fondness for or attraction to. Setting aside empedocless view of eros as the force binding the world together, the roots of the classical philosophy of love go back to platos symposium. There were relatively few books specifically on the philosophy of love. If philosophy has as its goal an active understanding alongside of the world, then christian agape love, understood as a deep concern for the other as neighbor, is a necessary. Philosophy of love internet encyclopedia of philosophy. This book is a really great overview of philosophies. Troy is the author of loves vision, as well as two collections of poems. The best philosophy books of all time updated for 2020. It is a critical overview of the nature, and the ethics, of sex and love. Youre even all right if you started out with some work by bertrand russell, or ayn rand.
In addition to introducing some important themes in the philosophy of love, the book should remind humanistic philosophers why they do what they do, and it should whet the appetites of a broader audience for. It was written almost two and a half thousand years ago and its about a group of men at a dinner party who were all hungover from the night before. The first and greatest victory is to conquer yourself. Nov 06, 2016 american philosophy a love story by john kaag 259 pp. The greek word philosophy philosophia is a compound word, composed of two parts. Bringing philosophy together with popular cultural analysis, linnell secomb provides an interesting and engaging account of theories of love throughout history.
In addition to introducing some important themes in the philosophy of love, the book should remind humanistic philosophers why they do what they do, and it should whet the appetites of a broader audience for further reading. Ive put together this as a guide to some of the best philosophy books. The word philosophy literally means the love philo in greek of wisdom sophia. Kaag, professor of philosophy at the university of massachusetts, lowell, writes for a broad audience and, in words he uses to describe his aim, successfully bridges the gap between philosophical and creative writing. This, of course, leaves us with 2 important questions. And it ends in wonder too, when philosophical taught has done its. Gender roles are addressed and it even brings about the topic of death and the life cycle. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. The best books on philosophy of love five books recommendations. Yes, and its so strange because platos symposium is one of the most famous philosophy books of all time, and its all about love. Care, love, sex, and virtue ethics, the editor of sex and ethics. Solomon and kathleen higgins, which includes lots of excerpts from ancient philosophers including plato and sappho, right up to contemporary philosophers such as martha nussbaum.
Love is the ultimate vulnerability, but philosophy, religion and art throughout time have pictured it instead as a path to a higher level of. Nevertheless, in my opinion, nothing in platos philosophy stands in the way of adapting it to modern times, when due to their education and to political. Part novel, part philosophical inquiry into the origin and machinery of romantic love, the book follows the story of a love affair, tracing each. American philosophy a love story by john kaag 259 pp. As we will see later, true knowledge does not attach itself to the observable world around us. A love story is deeply personal as well as philosophically insightful. For example, the way in which i love my wife is seemingly very different from the way i love my mother, my child, and my friend. This article examines the nature of love and some of the ethical and political ramifications. John kaag is a professor of philosophy at the university of massachusetts, lowell.
Love is the joy of the good, the wonder of the wise, the amazement of the gods. Along the way, reflections on samesex desire, crosscultural love, and internet romance are considered against the ideas of nietzsche, beauvoir, irigaray, derrida, and fanon, and other. In the second edition of this lively, lucid, and comprehensive book, raja halwani explores and elucidates the nature, uses, and ethics of romantic love, sexuality, and marriage. This wonderfully eclectic book surveys the western perspectives on romantic and erotic love, starting in antiquity and continuing up to the modern day. The greatest wealth is to live content with little. An introduction to philosophy of love 9780275958404. This is an introductory textbook in the philosophy of sex and love by one of americas best known authors on the topic. Philosophy, evolution, memes, darwin, dawkins, love. Halwani considers the topics from the latest research and adds his own argument to each of the topics. His writing has appeared in the new york times, harpers magazine, the christian science monitor, and many other publications. The book is bestread in tandem with the new psychology of love, the 2008 followup to the original title a priceless parallel that captures how scientific and technological innovation has improved and, in some cases, shifted our understanding of loves psychological underbelly, and perhaps more importantly, the curious fact that nearly. Explore philosophy from different cultures and various schools of thought from great thinkers like plato, c. In addition to introducing some important themes in the philosophy of love, the book should remind humanistic philosophers why they do what they do, and it. John armstrongs top 10 books on love books the guardian.
Philosophical methods include questioning, critical. Philosophical essays on selfdetermination, terrorism, and the onestate solution. John and ken question the notion that love cannot be captured by the light of reason by turning their attention to the philosophy of love with philosopherpoet troy jollimore from csu chico. Nevertheless, in my opinion, nothing in platos philosophy stands in the way of adapting it to. Philosophy and loveintroduces historical and contemporary philosophical reflections on love. The concept of love in their operas, all published by the mit press, and many other books. You are a philosopher when you can find a place to any fact, in heaven or earth. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer no kindle device required. The love and logic institute is dedicated to making parenting and teaching fun and rewarding, instead of stressful and chaotic. Aristotles ethics, books 8 and 9 are about friendship, if youre interested in that kind of love.
All of our work is based on a psychologically sound parenting and teaching, wholechild. Natural philosophy about the most important matters of life, trying to define a theory of everything. Search the worlds most comprehensive index of fulltext books. A love story, which was an npr best book of 2016 and a new york times editors choice. Rather than being a philosophy about love, this book shows that love provides the essential framework through which philosophy and theology both operate and manifest. Oct 11, 2016 a neglected library leads to love in american philosophy john kaags new memoirslashphilosophical treatise begins at a low point in his life, and follows his quest for answers to a dusty old. All about love by bell hooks is an optimistic book, a little sermonic at times, which draws upon the spanish mystic teresa davila, trappist monk thomas merton, american philosopher and activist cornel west, as well as psychologists like erich fromm and m. Bradley, who for a short period in the early twentieth century was hailed as britains greatest philosopher, showed us that fundamentally, love is an experience beyond self. This is one of the best philosophy books in the history of medical practice, and forms the foundation of our current understanding of human health and disease. Eros, or proper love, is the emotion that motivates us to ascend to the heights of knowledge. The best books on the philosophy of love, whether romantic, erotic, familial or platonic, as recommended by author and academic skye c cleary. Essays on sexuality, virtue, and the good life, and the coauthor with tomis kapitan of the israelipalestinian conflict.