Please join the Affect and the Emotions Workshop
MONDAY, December 9, when
Amy Levine
PhD Candidate
Philosophy and Social Thought
University of Chicago
presents the paper:
“Desiring Being: An analytic of eros in Plato’s Symposium“
MONDAY, December 9
4:30-6pm | Cobb 409
Respondent: Josh Trubowitz, Philosophy and Social Thought
Description: I investigate the logical distinction between “lover” and “beloved,” and the role that this distinction plays in Plato’s Symposium. I understand the distinction between lover and beloved as between two ways of relating to the good and the beautiful, the former in a relation of having and the latter of being. With this in mind, I present a close reading of Socrates’ and Alcibiades’ speeches, in conjunction with Lacan’s reading of the dialogue. On my reading, Socrates concludes, at the end of his speech, that our highest possible relation to the beautiful is one of having, and not of being. Alcibiades recognizes this, but cannot bear it, revealing an ambivalence at the heart of our eros.
The paper, to be read in advance, will be distributed to the Affect and the Emotions Workshop mailing list and is available in the post below with a password. Light refreshments will be served.
If you would like to join our mailing list, please click here. We are committed to making our sessions accessible to all persons. Questions, requests, or concerns may be directed to Michal Zechariah (michalz@uchicago.edu).
Image: Detail from Raphael, The School of Athens. 1509-11.
