Socrates in Love: Philosophy for a Passionate Heart [Hardcover]

Christopher Phillips (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 17, 2007

A breakout book completing a trilogy of Socratic exploration by the inimitable Johnny Appleseed of philosophy.

Christopher Phillips goes to the heart of philosophy and Socratic discourse to discover what we're all looking for: the kind of love that makes life worthwhile. Love here is not defined only or even primarily as eros, but in all its classic varietiesfrom love of family and love of neighbor to love of country, love of God, love of life, and love of wisdom. Phillips's explorations take us from New Orleans at Mardi Gras and the gambling dens of Las Vegas to the last evangelical revival presided over by Billy Graham. He talks with moms and dads about "parent love," with inmates of a maximum-security prison about "unconditional love," with Hurricane Katrina refugees and a family who took them in, and with Japanese seniors and schoolchildren in Hiroshima Peace Park. Throughout, he enriches his dialogues with commentary on the great philosophers of love from the ancients to Rumi to Ayn Rand and Anais Nin.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company (February 17, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0393060179
• ISBN-13: 978-0393060171
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.8 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #932,401 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars We need to TALK...about LOVE!, February 8, 2007

By 

Ronald Gross (New York, New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Socrates in Love: Philosophy for a Passionate Heart (Hardcover)

"Philosophy" means LOVE of Wisdom -- a form of love which this author exemplifies in his world-wide work to spark and nurture Socratic conversations. This book vividly portrays such conversations which range widely and go deep -- deep into an emotion which is referred to promiscuously, but rarely understood. By anchoring the book in these conversations which any of us can imagine participating in, Phillips brings his subject alive in an amazing way. There is a notable literature on Love (Fromm's Art of Loving, Tennov's Love and Limerance), but no previous one that is as involving as this one. Just a wonderful read by a person you would love to know, and do, through this remarkable book.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Phillips Philosophical Gem, February 20, 2007

By 

Jack Bowen "Author of 'If You Can Read This: ... (Bay Area) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Socrates in Love: Philosophy for a Passionate Heart (Hardcover)

In "Socrates In Love," Phillips has stayed true to his previous books and his mission--making philosophy approachable, relevant, and action-oriented. If you liked his other books or like that approach to philosophy, you'll like "Socrates in Love." I think this approach is under-developed in today's culture and it's refreshing to see it done here in an universally relevant area: love.

Like any good philosopher, Phillips tries not to convince us of a specific point of view, but to enlighten us and allow us to explore this for ourselves. He draws from an amazingly rich array of sources, employing research and theory from disciplines such as anthropology, sociology, psychology, religion, history, science, art, and of course, philosophy.

As per his other books, Phillips interviews a wide array of "lay people" amidst his more academic research. He does a tremendous job of connecting these conversations with our beloved "first theorist of love" Socrates and with other known philosophers and theories surrounding the different types of love. He provides incredible breadth in his investigations, extending his exploration to numerous varied locations throughout the world, people of all ages and religions, varying socio-economic classes, and a motley array of professions (or lack thereof).

Of course, some of this investigation results in more questions than answers (a virtue, I believe). Is love universal? Cross-cultural? What does it mean to love "unconditionally"? What affect do taboos have on our love/sex lives? How does love change us? Is love reducible to something logical or biological? Can love be rational in the first place (and if not, is it then irrational? And if irrational, then what?)

The greatest advantage of this book is that it provides the reader with both an accessible though thorough academic approach to the topic of love (and to sex...) and a catalyst for personal growth in this area as well. (And all without being preachy or "self-helpy").

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Chicken soup for what ails humanity., December 22, 2008

By 

Lawrence E. Woodward "Lars of the Hearth" (Northwoods) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Socrates in Love: Philosophy for a Die-Hard Romantic (Paperback)

Wonderful. Informative. Reassuring. Inspiring. Chicken soup for what ails humanity. The answer is simple. Arete. Ubuntu. Compassion and the courage to express it fully. Put love at the center of life. The price to live so is high. To wit Socrates,Jesus... Not to live so, we suffer more. Here is the core of what we should be teaching our children, as we clarify our own awareness and renew our own commitment.