Greek Eros and Philia Love Magic

Classical scholar Christopher Faraone writes about love among the ancient Greeks. He looks at evidence from erotic charms, spells. and potions to form a mixed picture of what relations between the sexes were really like. In this article, we use Farones information to explain the common uses of love magic between ancient Greek men and women. But first, a small digression to introduce terms used for love: Brotherly Love; Gods Love; Romantic love; Parents Love The following online discussion argues that the reason English speakers are confused about love is that we dont have enough words for it. Writer A:I recently read: Sanskrit has ninety-six words for love; ancient Persian has eighty; Greek three; and English only one.The author thought it was symbolic of the devaluation of the feeling function in the West. Writer B:Interesting, but I think English speakers do know the 96 forms of love - they just jam it into one word! The Greek words were eros, agape, and philia, right? See, we all use those definitions, but in the same word. Eros is a romantic, sexual hormone-raging love. Agape is a deep, connecting, brotherly love. Philia is a...hmm...I think necrophilia and pedophilia explain it.That is why we are all confused over what love is, since we have dozens of definitions for it! Agape and Philia vs. Eros We native speakers of English distinguish between lust and love but tend to get confused when we look at the Greek distinction between: eros andagape orphilia Affection as Love While it is easy to understand agape as the love one feels towards friends, family, and animals, we think of the mutual affection we feel towards our mates as different. Affection and Passion The agape (or philia) of the Greeks included affection, and also the sexual passion felt towards our mates, according to the University of Chicagos Christopher A. Faraone. Eros, however, was new, disorienting passion, conceived of as an attack of unwelcome lust, aptly represented as inflicted by the arrow-wielding god of love. Black and White Love Magic When we talk about black magic, we mean spells or voodoo practices designed to hurt someone else; by white, we mean spells or charms whose aim is to heal or help, often connected with medicinal herbs and other holistic or non-traditional healing practices. From our perspective, the ancient Greeks used black and white magic to arm themselves in the arena of love. Black magic: There were magical effigies much like those used today by practitioners of voodoo. The practitioner of this aggressive magic would cast an incantation and poke or burn the effigy in an effort to affect the person represented. The intention was to make the woman represented suffer the pangs of lust to the point that she would leave her family. The practitioner might invoke Eros, Pan, Hekate, or Aphrodite.White magic: Practitioners applied herbs to make an errant lover return or to restore harmony to a dysfunctional relationship. She might invoke Selene, Helios, or Aphrodite. Both types of love magic usually involved spells or incantations, but the type were referring to as black is more closely related to curse tablets than the other, more benign, love magic. The difference between these two types of magic is based on the difference between the two types of love, eros and philia. Gender-Based Love Magics Faraone distinguishes these two types of love, eros and philia, and their related magics as overwhelmingly gender-based. Men used the eros-based agoge spells [agolead] designed to lead women to them; women, the philia spells. Men used the spells to make women burn with passion. Women used the spells as aphrodisiacs. Men tied up their effigies and tortured them. They used incantations, tortured animals, burning, and apples. Women spread ointments on the clothing of their mates or sprinkled herbs in food. They also used incantations, knotted cords, and love potions. Theocritus Iunx The gender division isnt absolute. The iunx is said to have been a small, sexually rapacious bird which Greek men would tie on a wheel and then torture, in the hopes of filling the objects of their lust with burning, irresistible passion. In Theocritus second Idyll, its not a man, but a woman who uses an iunx as a magical object for an agoge spell. She repeatedly chants: Iunx, bring my man home. Mythology and Modern Love Magic in Pill Form While the agoge spells, the ones men usually used on women, resemble voodoo and seem like what we call black magic, the philia spells could also be deadly. As is the nature of many herbs, you only need a little. When the mythological Deianeira used the centaurs ointment on Hercules garment, it was as a philia spell, to keep Heracles from abandoning her for his new love, Iole (cf Women of Trachis). Although we do not know, perhaps a drop would not have killed him; however, the amount Deianeira used proved fatal. The ancient Greeks did not distinguish magic from medicine, as we claim to do. The need for erotic (whether agoge or philia) magic has long extended into domestic life where the wife of an impotent man (or the man himself) might invoke a bit of philia magic. Viagras popularity attests to the fact that we still practice magic miracle cures. Source Faraone, Christopher A., Ancient Greek Love Magic. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1999.

The Handmaid s Tale Are Men And Blame - 850 Words

The Handmaid’s Tale: Are Men to Blame? Women have been domesticated by men since the beginning of time. This role was given to women changing substantially as the years have gone by. It is still true that today there is a battle for equality of the sexes, and this novel by Margaret Atwood displays the harsh reality we continue to face in this male dominant society. Interestingly enough, this was written and published in the 80s and is still relevant today. Some believe that it is perfectly fine to not have equality amongst all let alone equality for women. Atwood’s use of men gives them power over women but they are not to blame for this mistreatment of the opposite sex. The Handmaid’s Tale gives a clear picture of what could happen to our society if women are continued to be seen as voiceless sex objects. It only takes one person to realize that what is occurring is wrong and it takes men and women both to stop the nonsense. Men in the story like T he Commander and Nick realize the wrongness, giving the women some hope. The concern for Offred the Commander displays proves not all men are evil or to blame in Gilead. The Commander is in no way the savior of the novel; however, he is Offred’s only hope. The society has already set rules no matter how horrible they are it is the law and he is a part of the hierarchy. If Commander went against his own council he would need allies to dispute the â€Å"handmaid issue.† Men are not willing to step up defendingShow MoreRelatedHandmaids tale1446 Words   |  6 Pages3rd, 2013 Hierarchy in The HandMaid s Tale Margaret Atwood s The Handmaid s Tale is a interesting novel that will have you confused but also have you bitting your nails with intrigue. So many questions might go in your head, at the same time; Atwood wrote this novel so her readers can have curiosity, even after reading the last word of the last paragraph of the last page of the book. One of the main topics of this novel is the effect on society when a women s fate is taken away from and replacedRead MoreIs Today s Society Becoming A Dystopian World?1313 Words   |  6 Pagesa dystopian world? Both the novels 1984 by George Orwell and The Handmaids Tale by Margaret Atwood provide warnings of how each author sees certain problems in society leading to dystopian states. Civilizations are forced to live by rules and for certain purposes to ensure the governments own goals and aspirations, but arise for different reasons. Atwood is concerned with political groups and aspects of feminism; The Handmaids Tale illustrates how decl ining birth rates could lead to a state whereRead MoreMargaret Atwood s The Handmaid s Tale Essay1309 Words   |  6 Pagesthe class that ends up being oppressed. In Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, this is exactly the case, and the oppressed caste is the handmaids. The United States has been transformed into The Republic of Gilead. This change was stimulated by the increase in rape and violence against women, as well as the dropping fertility rates. The story begins with a handmaid named Offred. She has been assigned the job of a handmaid because she is one of the few women who are still fertile. Offred works inRead MoreThe Handmaid s Tale And Brave New World1448 Words   |  6 PagesAlthough The Handmaid’s Tale by Margret Atwood and Brave New World by Aldous Huxley involve different stories, the societies portrayed in these two dystopic novels lack the basic freedoms needed for a society to function properly. These novels present an individual whose fr eedom has been stripped away by a government that controls all aspects of their life -knowledge, individuality, relationships with others- in order to maintain stability in a fragile society. 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The pessimism associated with novels of this genre—where society is presented as frightening and restrictive—exposes the gender inequality between men and women to be deleteriousRead MoreAnalysis Of Margaret Atwood s The Great Gatsby Essay2646 Words   |  11 Pagesa world like this, and one is able to see this toughness througho ut the book and memories from Offred’s life. In Arnold’s Future Tense: Making History in The Handmaid’s Tale he describes the women life Offred extremely well when he says â€Å"In Gilead, women have been framed. Framed by their red robes and wide wimples, the handmaids are clearly visible, marked and delimited by their social status. For the wearer within the frame, the wimples serve as blinders; to look through them is to see only straightRead MoreMargaret Atwood s The Handmaid Tale3177 Words   |  13 PagesThe substantial measures that Gilead takes to achieve perfection results in a dystopian society instead of a utopian one. The dystopian society has detrimental effects on the women of Gilead, both emotionally and physically. In the novel, The handmaids tale, by Margaret Atwood, the author utilizes the setting of the novel and its characters to communicate the themes of oppression and control over the female population of Gilead. Setting Atwood’s main focus for this book is to create a dystopianRead MoreThe Worlds Of The Last Man Essay2207 Words   |  9 PagesIn the worlds of The Last Man by Marry Shelly and A Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood, the lives of the survivors of the apocalypse are thrown into chaos. In The Last Man, the people of England are driven out of their native home by the plague and forced into the desolate wasteland that is Europe. In A Handmaid’s Tale, Gilead society has torn Offred away from her past life and severed all her connections to it. In these troubled times, characters turn to religion either by force or their own free

John Stuart Mill And Income Inequality - 1721 Words

ECON1401 Written Assignment 1 – John Stuart Mill and Income Inequality Many great economic thinkers throughout history has offered various differing yet interrelated views and ideas that may prove useful to the analysis of current issues in modern economics. A persistent issue in the modern economy is income inequality whereby the distribution of income among the population is unequal. This means that the gap between the rich and the poor increases over time if the issue is not appropriately addressed. In exploring the issue of income inequality in Australia, this essay aims to analyse the issue from the perspective of a selected economic thinker – namely John Stuart Mill – by: (1) providing a summary of Mill’s key ideas and theories, including the different forces that may have shaped his thinking; (2) applying Mill’s conceptual framework to the income inequality problem; and (3) offer solutions he might have suggested to address this problem, including policies that may be adopted and institutions that may be constructed in the Australian context. In order to consider the problem of income inequality from Mill’s perspective, it is of imperative importance to first grasp an understanding of what factors contributed to the development of his key ideas. Known as one of the most influential figures in classical economics, Mill is more commonly described as a philosopher and socialist than an economist due to his obstinate strive for progressive social reform throughout hisShow MoreRelatedMorals, Ethics, And Modern Thinking Essay1367 Words   |  6 Pagesinformation of income inequality shows a divergence from moral ethics and the consequences are dire. Miriam-Webster defines â€Å"good† as something conforming to the moral order of the universe and â€Å"morality† as a doctrine or a system of moral conduct (Merriam). I will apply the Utilitarian moral theory and the Kantian moral theory to this issue, and show that no matter how you look at it or what theory you subscribe to, good morality is lacking in the a cceptance of the current income inequality that existsRead MoreThroughout History, Economists And Philosophers Have Theorized1533 Words   |  7 Pagespossible. Despite this, many people throughout history have pointed out capitalism’s flaws. John Stuart Mill, a utilitarian, outlines some of his objections to capitalism in â€Å"Principles of Political Economy.† In Mill’s time, the economy was dominated by the factory system, which notoriously exploited laborers for capitalist profit. Because of this, there were revolts against capitalism all over Europe (Mill 2017). One of the systems proposed by opponents of capitalism is communism. In the â€Å"ManifestoRead MoreFood Stamp Cuts: Justified or Unjustified? Essay619 Words   |  3 Pagesthose who believe the program cuts were justified. Those who are against the cuts to the Food Stamp Program can argue that under the difference principle, Congress was wrong to reduce funding. The difference principle, created by John Rawls, states that an inequality in a society, such as in power or wealth, is only justified if it benefits the worst off. 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Thankfully, we have more than a Hollywood protagonist to fight for the protection of rights. John Stuart Mill, Robert Nozick, and John Rawls provide a philosophic framework for evaluating the security-for-rights compromise. Though their respective theories vary greatly in theory and in practice, they provide models to condemn this exchange. Nevertheless, each differsRead MoreDifferences and Similarities of Liberalism1956 Words   |  8 PagesDifferences and Similarities of Liberalism The purpose of this paper is to treat the similarly and differences of liberalism. I will use John Locke and Adam Smith to represent classical liberals. John Stuart Mill and John Maynard Keynes will be used to show contemporary liberals. 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Sartres Existentialist View Essay Example For Students

Sartres Existentialist View Essay Jean-Paul Sartre says man is nothing else but what he makes of himself (762). This existentialist view depicts the idea that one is not based on the essence of a soul, but rather, based on decisions made throughout life. Sartre also believes that every man is responsible for all men. One may choose his marriage partner, however, in choosing to marry, one chooses monogamy. Decisions that individuals make will collectively create a set of principles and beliefs for all of man. Many people believe that a persons decisions are a reflection of his soul and personality. However, it is more likely that the conclusion a person reaches is due to the influence of different ideas, as well as the circumstances surrounding the choices. People take into consideration the thoughts and opinions of others, hindering the idea of an individuals essence. If an essence really existed, another persons thoughts would not affect someone elses. Instead, a person makes choices from birth and the different decisions that one chooses form a pattern and creates ones character.Sartre also says, Man is nothing else than his plan; he exists only to the extent that he fulfills himself; he is therefore nothing else than the ensemble of his acts, nothing else than his life (769). This exemplifies the point that man is the product of his actions and has complete control over his own life. The soul and personality that are given to a person do not limit him in his actions; the judgments that he makes depict the type of person that he is. Therefore the essence does not create the man, the man creates his essence. Also, ones choices and decisions create a code for all of man. This set of codes creates the unwritten laws of people, which in turn create good and bad. If a person acts against this he can pray to God and ask for forgiveness. However, existentialism is indifferent to Gods existence, which makes the person fully responsible for his own actions. This causes despair because it leaves people with nothing to cling to when they have made the wrong decision. If God does not exist, then there is no moral code to follow, therefore all men are free. It is completely upon the man to decide what is good and what is not. There is no longer the sense of God judging man so one must make his own decisions and based on them he is condemned to be free (765-766). Sartre believes that man is condemned because he did not choose to exist, but is also free because he is completely responsible for his actions. Existentialism does not allow room for mistake. A person has no one to blame for bad decisions or misunderstandings. One cannot say, I have had bad luck because existentialism does not believe in fortune or misfortune, but only in personal decisions. This enhances the true reality of life. Situations create the future and therefore hopes and dreams are a mere loss of reality. The future is produced by a persons decisions and so one should not dream but rather, make decisions that will lead to a beneficial life in the future.Sartre also says a man who lies and makes excuses for himself by saying not everybody does that, is someone with an uneasy conscience, because the act of lying implies that a universal value is conferred upon the lie (764). This further illustrates the concept that there is an unwritten law for man, and creates the idea of good and bad. The Fool In King Lear Essay There are choices that are universally made when a person is placed in the same situation, with the same circumstances. Sartre believes that man should base his decisions on the thought that all of mankind is watching and will guide themselves by the actions of that one person.This belief forces people to think before they act and consciously make decisions knowing that it will reflect humanity. Simply, one