PHIL 438 Course Schedule

van Eyck, Arnolfini Marriage

PHIL 438/538

Philosophy of
Love and Friendship
David H. Calhoun

Course Schedule

Readings are to be completed before class on the day for which they are assigned; note that on some days there is more than one reading assignment.

The schedule below is organized by weeks and units. Each week of the course features two units, one for each half of the week.

Contact David H. Calhoun by email:
calhoun@gem.gonzaga.edu

		GETTING STARTED
	WEEK 1 UNIT 1	Introduction What is Love? What are the different kinds of love? In what ways are love and friendship philosophically significant topics? (after class you may wish to review Lewis, Chapter I, "Introduction," and Chapter II, "Likings and Loves")
Auguste Rodin, "The Kiss"		EROS (See Lewis, Chapter V, "Eros")
	WEEK 1 UNIT 2	*Plato, Symposium* 172a-199c (Nehamas/Woodruff pp. 1-39)** What themes are repeated in the different speeches offered in favor of Love? What significant agreements and disagreements do you see between the various speeches? What ethical and metaphysical significance does Love have for the speakers?
	WEEK 2 UNIT 1	*Plato, Symposium* 199c-223d (Nehamas/Woodruff pp. 40-77)** What sort of thing does Socrates think Love is? Why? Is Love Beautiful, according to his (and Diotima's) view? What is the true object of Love's desire? What is the point of Alcibiades' drunken speech at the end of the dialogue?
	WEEK 2 UNIT 2	*Freud, Civilization and Its Discontents, Parts III-V (reserve in Foley Center)* Introductory Notes on Freud's Psychology of Eros Free reading on erotic love
Pierre-Auguste Renior, "The Boating Party" (detail)		FRIENDSHIP (See Lewis, Chapter IV, "Friendship") Introductory Notes on Friendship
	WEEK 3 UNIT 1	*Plato, Lysis* (OS pp. 3-27)** What do you think is the philosophical purpose of the introductory sequence of the dialogue (in which Socrates speaks with Ctesippus and Hippothales)? How does that conversation shape our perspective on the discussion that takes place in the wrestling school between Socrates, Lysis, and Menexenus? What, if anything, do they learn about friendship? What is this dialogue really about? Notes on Plato's Lysis
	WEEK 3 UNIT 2	*Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics* excerpts (OS pp. 30-69)** How successful is Aristotle in offering a definition of friendship? What does Aristotle seem to think is important about friendship? What motivates it? Are all friendships equal? Why or why not? How well does Aristotle's analysis work for friendship today?
	WEEK 4 UNIT 1	Cicero, "On Friendship" (OS pp. 79-116) According to Laelius, what are the key features of friendship? In what ways does his view of friendship parallel with or contrast to Aristotle's? Introduction to Cicero's "On Friendship" Kant, "Lecture on Friendship" (OS pp. 210-17) What, in Kant's view, is the moral status of friendship? Does friendship deserve moral praise? Why or why not?
	WEEK 4 UNIT 2	Free reading on friendship AT LEAST ONE ESSAY MUST BE SUBMITTED BY THIS DATE.
stained-glass image of the Good Samaritan		CHARITY (See Lewis, Chapter VI, "Charity")
	WEEK 5 UNIT 1	Selected "Life Stories of the Buddha" (on reserve in Foley Center) What do these stories tell us about the Buddhist view of life? What responsibilities to people (particularly powerful, wise, or enlightened people) have to others? Are there limits to the sort of sacrifice that are regarded as morally good? What is the motivation for sacrifice? Christian views of love from the Bible (on reserve in Foley Center) read the following passages from the Bible (any modern translation is acceptable, or click on the links for online versions): Matthew 5:43-48--love for enemies Luke 10:25-37--the Good Samaritan Matthew 22:34-40; John 13:34-35; John 15:1-15--love as commandment Romans 15:1-4; 1 Corinthians 12:31-13:13--Paul on love *Aquinas, Summa Theologiae* excerpt (OS pp. 171-84)** Thomas' objective is to synthesize the Aristotelian conception of friendship and Christian theological claims about our relationship with God and with other human beings. How well do you think Aristotle's ideas apply to Christian ideas? Thomas Aquinas on Charity: Background and Reading notes
	WEEK 5 UNIT 2	*Kierkegaard, excerpts from Works of Love* (OS pp. 235-47) Kierkegaard objects to the particularism of friendship, and argues that Christian love is radically different in its aims. Why? Soren Kierkegaard on Christian Love Barbara Andolsen, "Feminism and Agape" (on reserve in Foley Center) Andolsen argues that the selflessness normally associated with Agape is a male-fostered compensation for the selfishness of men. What does she propose as an alternative? Does it do justice to the idea of Agape? OPTIONAL: Stephen Post, "A Theory of Agape" (on reserve in Foley Center)** What according to Post is the key to the notion of Agape love?
	WEEK 6 UNIT 1	Nel Noddings, "On Caring" (on reserve in Foley Center) *Richard Dawkins, excerpt from The Selfish Gene* (on reserve in Foley Center)**
	WEEK 6 UNIT 2	Free reading on charity/unselfish love Course Conclusion

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