About this Event
Lecture Title
A Philosophy of Love: Nietzsche, Lou Salomé and William James
Abstract
Reflecting on the power of the words ‘I love you’ in everyday discourse, this inaugural lecture will examine the philosophy of love in the post-Darwinian world of late nineteenth-century and early twentieth-century philosophy. It will explore the boundary between a Darwinian embodied emotion and the long tradition of idealistic forms of love in Plato to find a new third position. In examining the value of Western philosophical accounts of love, it will map this position through the philosopher Nietzsche and one of the first female psychoanalytic thinkers Lou Salomé. This exploration will provide a way to introduce the thinking of the American psychologist-philosopher William James and his relational philosophy of love. The lecture will argue that the idea of love requires a pragmatic interrogation, a recognition of embodied consciousness and a stronger link to the life force that connects human beings to that which is within and beyond themselves.
This lecture will be followed by a reception.
This venue is fully accessible however, if you require disabled access, please email [email protected] so that we can ensure we accommodate this.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Assembly Hall, New College, Mound Place, Edinburgh, United Kingdom