Love and Politics: Persistent Human Desires as a Foundation for Liberation

In "Love and Politics," Jeffery L. Nicholas argues that Eros is the ultimate rejection of an alienated life, where humans are prevented from developing their human powers. He interprets Alasdair MacIntyre's Revolutionary Aristotelianism as a response to alienation, but it fails to address alienation in the form of the oppression of women or people of color. Nicholas turns to Aristotle to reconstruct his metaphysics to defend a philosophical anthropology based on Eros.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 260 pages
Publication date: 31 May 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

In his profound exploration of the human condition, Jeffery L. Nicholas delves into the intricate relationship between love and politics. According to Nicholas, Eros represents a profound rejection of an alienated life, where individuals are hindered from fully developing their inherent human powers. In contrast, Eros embodies an overflowing of acting into new realities and new beauties, creating a world where human beings expand their capacities and senses.

Nicholas offers a unique interpretation of Alasdair MacIntyre's Revolutionary Aristotelianism as a response to alienation, which he defines as the divorce of fact from value. While this account provides valuable insights into the nature of alienation, it fails to address the profound forms of alienation experienced by women and people of color, particularly in the context of oppression. It also neglects to acknowledge the dominance of nature that perpetuates the darkness of alienated life.

To address these shortcomings, Nicholas turns to Aristotle for guidance. He explores how Aristotle's philosophy embodies a divorce of human from nature, and then reconstructs the essential elements of Aristotle's metaphysics to defend a philosophical anthropology based on Eros. Through this synthesis, Nicholas seeks to provide a comprehensive framework for understanding the human condition and promoting liberation.

Love and Politics: Persistent Human Desires as a Foundation for Liberation is a groundbreaking work that combines the insights of MacIntyre's Revolutionary Aristotelianism, Frankfurt School Critical Theory, and Social Reproduction Theory. It offers a rich and nuanced perspective on the complex interplay between love, politics, and human liberation. This book will be of immense interest to political theorists, philosophers, and anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of the human experience.

Weight: 453g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032012186