Ancient and Medieval Concepts of Friendship
Ancient and Medieval Concepts of Friendship (SUNY series in Ancient Greek Philosophy) edited by Suzanne Stern-Gillet, Gary M. Gurtler
English | December 1, 2014 | ISBN: 1438453655, 1438453647 | EPUB | 344 pages | 0.9 MB
English | December 1, 2014 | ISBN: 1438453655, 1438453647 | EPUB | 344 pages | 0.9 MB
Charts the stages of the history of friendship as a philosophical concept in the Western world.
Focusing on Plato and Aristotle, the Stoics and Epicureans, and early Christian and Medieval sources, Ancient and Medieval Concepts of Friendship brings together assessments of different philosophical accounts of friendship. This volume sketches the evolution of the concept from ancient ideals of friendship applying strictly to relationships between men of high social position to Christian concepts that treat friendship as applicable to all but are concerned chiefly with the soul’s relation to God—and that ascribe a secondary status to human relationships. The book concludes with two essays examining how this complex heritage was received during the Enlightenment, looking in particular to Immanuel Kant and Friedrich Hölderlin.