The Philosophy of (Erotic) Love

by Arthur C. Danto, Robert C. Solomon (Editor), Kathleen Marie Higgins (Editor)

What does philosophy know of love? From Plato on, philosophers have struggled to pin love to the dissecting table and view it in the cold light of logic. Yet, as Arthur Danto writes in the foreword to this volume, "how incorrigibly stiff philosophy is when it undertakes to lay its icy fingers on the frilled and beating wings of the butterfly of love."

Love, elusive and philosophically intractable as it is, has long fascinated philosophers. In this collection of classic and modern writings on the topic of erotic love, Robert Solomon and Kathleen Higgins have chosen excerpts from the great philosophical texts and combined them with the most exciting new work of philosophers writing today.

The result is a broadly conceived, comprehensive, and important work, nearly as stimulating and provocative as love itself. It examines the mysteries of erotic love from a variety of philosophical perspectives and provides an impressive display of the wisdom that the world's best thinkers have brought, and continue to bring, to the study of love.

"Stunning! This brilliant interdisciplinary collection is as provocative, enchanting, and richly rewarding as its topic. Unrivaled in scope and richness, blending classic and contemporary readings on love, here is a wellspring of insights for scholars, students, and general readers alike."--Mike W. Martin, author of Self-Deception and Morality.

Genres: Philosophy, Love, Nonfiction, Sexuality, Erotica

536 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1991

About the author

Arthur C. Danto was Johnsonian Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at Columbia University and art critic for The Nation. He was the author of numerous books, including Unnatural Wonders: Essays from the Gap Between Art and Life, After the End of Art, and Beyond the Brillo Box: The Visual Arts in Post-Historical Perspective.

Reviews

[Juxtin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book as part of a class on the philosophy of love, sex and marriage.

Was one of the most dynamic catalysts for new theories on the human experience I've had.

[Karen Ford · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually loved this. Incredibly interesting.

[Opal💥 · Rating 1 out of 5]

Academic and boring, school book, and dense. Feminist at parts and anti feminist in other parts, as I said, only read for class.

[Ana · Rating 4 out of 5]

fascinating!

[Kathryn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I must have been 19 when i read it, how girly of me.