Profs and Pints Online presents: “The Love Lecture,” with Laura Papish, associate professor of philosophy at George Washington University and teacher of a seminar on the philosophy of love, sex, and friendship.

[This talk will remain available in recorded form at the link given here for tickets and access.]

Who wrote the book of love? Why does love have to be so sad? Is it a thin line between love and hate? On a more serious note, how does our society's understanding of love and romantic love shape our experience of it? Why do we think of love as mysterious and irrational? Do those we love need to be lovable? Is love necessarily a morally good thing, or can it actually make it harder for us to be good?

Hear such questions fielded by Laura Papish, associate professor of philosophy at George Washington University and teacher of a seminar on the philosophy of love, sex, and friendship.

She'll start by examining how ancient Greeks thought about erotic love and move on from there, looking at how love is envisioned in classic novels, recent films, and pop culture.  She'll also discuss the origins of the idea that people have a soul mate and how some have tried to criticize or transform love, including how socialists and feminists have cast suspicion on romantic love and sexual desire. We'll also talk about whether you can (and should) choose your beloved and the case for being a pessimist about love.

Together, we'll explore different possibilities for love and those mysteries about it that have left more than a few of us feeling befuddled. Feel free to attend if you are lovelorn, love-stricken, or just love to learn.

Profs & Pints Online: The Love Lecture