CSP 23 Love in Personal and Political Life

We will draw on philosophical work, literature, and film in order to address the following questions: What is love? What role does love play in good personal relationships, for example, in romantic relationships or the relationship between friends? Is love an important part of being a morally good person? Does it play an important role in creating or maintaining a just society? We will also consider the connection between love and related attitudes, such as forgiveness and the disposition to see the best in people. As we explore these topics, we will be especially concerned with love as a response to other people's shortcomings and wrongdoing. Readings may include work by James Baldwin, Harry Frankfurt, Mohandas Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., Iris Murdoch, Martha Nussbaum, and Marilynne Robinson.