Philosophy of Love. Friendship. Beauty

The course explores the philosophical history of love, friendship and beauty in the context. The course covers various figures from Ancient Greece to the Kyoto School of Japan, spanning almost two and a half thousand years. The course aims to broaden students’ understanding of well-known philosophical and literary works. Every tradition will be placed in its historical context, such as how Neoplatonism influenced Sufism. The extensive literature on love, friendship, and beauty has influenced cultures, shaping architecture, societal norms, and politics, so many of the figures studied will be presented as representatives of their respective traditions rather than as isolated poets or philosophers. In other words, the course proceeds with the understanding that no literature can be separated from its context; as Gadamer explained, there is no pure text. By studying various traditions over two thousand years, students will gain a deeper appreciation for some of the greatest traditions of the past.

Each fortnight typically focuses on two traditions, with five classes on the content and the sixth and final class of every fortnight dedicated to assessments. The students rely exclusively on primary sources. The course is structured to enable students to evaluate how different traditions influence one another, i.e., how specific themes are adopted, refined, and transformed over time.