[Past Event] Love: A Philosophical Journey | Ryan Ranch

Course Description:

Philosophy means the love of wisdom. But what is love? The word has been used by philosophers, theologians, poets, and ordinary people to cover everything from passionate desire to veneration to empathy, care and commitment. C.S. Lewis in "The Four Loves" bases his account on the ancient Greek in order to distinguish the basic types of love: affection, friendship, erotic love, and charity. In Plato’s "Symposium," Socrates is shown attending a party in which the guests are tasked with extolling the virtues of eroticism. The bond between love and beauty underscores both its pitfalls and a connection to our highest ideals. No discussion of love would be complete without listening to Jesus of Nazareth. In "Love is His Meaning: Understanding the Teaching of Jesus" (2017), Keith Ward writes that the spiritual significance of Jesus’s message concerns a self-giving love that points towards the deepest truths about God and even ourselves. We'll dive deep into these texts as we attempt to better understand the complex meaning of love.