Soul Gum The Philosophy of Love
Aug 24, 2025
What is love? Philosophers explore this timeless question, diving into theories from Plato’s soulmates to Schopenhauer’s views on biological impulses. Discover why opposites attract and how self-love shapes relationships. Sartre and de Beauvoir present a modern twist on love, pitting freedom against possession. Kierkegaard critiques unrealistic standards in romance. Through thought experiments and historical insights, the complexities of love are unveiled, encouraging reflection on our own experiences and connections.
46:45
Love Is Revealed By Tough Hypotheticals
- Victoria Hutchins prompts listeners to define love using five moral hypotheticals to reveal personal values.
- These dilemmas expose trade-offs like freedom vs protection and loyalty vs virtue that shape your love ethic.
The Origin Of The Soulmate Myth
- Victoria recounts Aristophanes' myth from Plato's Symposium about humans cut in half wandering in search of their other half.
- The story explains the origin of desire and the enduring soulmate idea.
Love As A Ladder To Transformation
- Socrates' ladder of love starts with eros and can elevate to a spiritual appreciation of beauty and truth.
- Love can catalyze personal transformation and broaden curiosity about the world.
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Intro
00:00 • 2min
Exploring the Complexities of Love: Hypotheticals and Reflections
02:12 • 5min
Exploring the Roots of Love in Ancient Philosophy
06:54 • 3min
Philosophy and the Complexity of Love
09:40 • 36min
The Power of Connection and Love
45:13 • 2min
#1025
• Mentioned in 23 episodes
Being and Nothingness
Jean-Paul Sartre
In 'Being and Nothingness,' Jean-Paul Sartre delves into the fundamental categories of being and nothingness.
He distinguishes between 'being-in-itself' (objects that simply exist and are unaware of themselves) and 'being-for-itself' (human consciousness, which is self-aware and free).
Sartre argues that human beings are characterized by their freedom and responsibility, and that they must create their own being through their actions in the world.
The book also introduces the concept of 'being-for-others,' highlighting the impact of others on our self-perception.
Sartre rejects traditional notions of a transcendent reality and instead emphasizes the importance of individual responsibility and authenticity in human existence.
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Works of love
Søren Kierkegaard
#13256
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
No exit
Jean-Paul Sartre
The play centers around three deceased characters, Joseph Garcin, Inèz Serrano, and Estelle Rigault, who are brought to the same room in hell by a mysterious valet.
Initially expecting medieval torture devices, they find themselves in a plain Second Empire-style room.
As they interact, they reveal their past crimes and the reasons for their damnation.
Garcin cheated on and mistreated his wife, Inèz seduced her cousin's wife leading to tragic consequences, and Estelle had an affair and killed her illegitimate child.
Despite their attempts to avoid each other, they continue to torment one another, illustrating Sartre's concept that 'hell is other people'.
The play explores themes of existentialism, the nature of hell, and the perpetual ontological struggle of being seen as an object by another consciousness.
#2013
• Mentioned in 13 episodes
The Second Sex
Simone de Beauvoir
In 'The Second Sex', Simone de Beauvoir delves into the concept of feminism by examining historical facts, biological differences, psychoanalytic theories, and societal myths that have led to the subjugation of women.
The book is divided into two volumes: 'Facts and Myths' and 'Lived Experience'.
Beauvoir argues that women are not inherently inferior but are made so by societal constructs and historical injustices.
She critiques the notion that women are defined as 'The Other' in relation to men, emphasizing that this distinction denies women their humanity and autonomy.
The book explores various stages of a woman's life, from childhood to old age, highlighting how societal forces condition women into accepting passive and dependent roles.
Beauvoir advocates for women's equality and autonomy, particularly through economic independence and the ability to support themselves through work.
#11854
• Mentioned in 3 episodes
Groundwork of the metaphysics of morals
Immanuel Kant
In 'Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals', Kant seeks to discover and establish the fundamental principle of morality.
He argues that the only thing that is unconditionally good is a good will, and its goodness is not based on the results of actions but on the principle of volition itself.
Kant introduces the concept of the categorical imperative, which states that one must act only according to maxims that could be willed to become universal laws.
He derives this principle from ordinary moral thought and philosophical points about the nature of duty, emphasizing that moral laws are synthetic a priori judgments that apply to rational beings irrespective of contingent aspects of their nature.
#18499
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
Metaphysics of Morals
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Immanuel Kant
#2813
• Mentioned in 10 episodes
Symposium
Plato
The Symposium is a philosophical dialogue written by Plato around 370 BCE. It depicts a friendly contest of extemporaneous speeches given by a group of notable Athenian men, including Socrates, Alcibiades, and Aristophanes, in praise of Eros, the god of love.
The dialogue is structured as a series of speeches, each developing the ideas of the previous one, and culminates in Socrates' speech, which recounts his conversation with the wise woman Diotima.
The work explores various aspects of love, including its benefits, its connection to philosophy, and its role in human happiness.
The setting is a banquet at the house of the tragedian Agathon, where the men engage in drinking and conversation, leading to heartfelt and noble speeches about love.
#2029
• Mentioned in 13 episodes
The Social Contract
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
In 'The Social Contract', Jean-Jacques Rousseau outlines a theory of government where the legitimacy of political authority stems from the consent of the governed.
The book begins with the famous line 'Man is born free, but he is everywhere in chains,' highlighting the tension between natural freedom and the constraints of societal laws.
Rousseau argues that a legitimate state is formed when citizens enter into a social contract, surrendering some of their natural rights in exchange for civil rights and the protection of the general will.
The general will, a collective idea of the common good, is central to Rousseau's theory, and he advocates for a system where the people, as the sovereign, make decisions directly and where laws ensure liberty and equality.
The work has been influential in shaping modern political thought and has played a significant role in the French Revolution and the development of democratic principles.
#1363
• Mentioned in 18 episodes
The world as will and representation
Arthur Schopenhauer
The book is divided into four parts.
The first part addresses the world as representation, the second details the world as will, the third discusses art and beauty as the only way to transcend the painful human condition, and the fourth discusses ethics and the ascetic ideal.
Schopenhauer argues that the will is the underlying reality of the world, beyond mere appearances, and that it is characterized by ceaseless striving and suffering.
#739
• Mentioned in 29 episodes
Notes from Underground
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Fyodor Dostoevsky
Fyodor Dostoevsky's "Notes from Underground" is a novella that delves into the mind of an unnamed narrator, a bitter and alienated individual who rails against reason and societal norms.
The work is considered a precursor to existentialist literature, exploring themes of isolation, nihilism, and the human condition.
Dostoevsky's masterful use of first-person narration allows readers to experience the narrator's turbulent thoughts and emotions.
The novella's exploration of free will and the complexities of human psychology continues to resonate with readers today.
Its influence on literature and philosophy is undeniable, shaping the works of later writers and thinkers.
Everyone wants love, but no one can tell you exactly what love is. In this episode, we deep dive into seven philosophical perspectives on love, ranging from the Ancient Greeks to the existentialists. If you’re curious whether Plato thought soulmates were real or Kierkegaard would tell you to text your ex, this episode is for you.
EPISODE OUTLINE
00:00 Intro (the philosophy of love)
03:19 What even is love? (hypotheticals on love)
07:07 Ancient Greek philosophy on love
07:35 Origins of the concept of soulmates (Plato’s The Symposium)
09:03 Socrates’ ladder of love
13:03 Enlightenment thinkers on love
13:15 Love as social performance (Rousseau)
13:58 Rousseau’s two types of self love
15:22 How self love affects how you love others
17:31 The humanity formula (Kant)
19:49 Practical vs. passionate love (Kant)
22:07 Love as a trick (Schopenhauer)
24:04 Why do opposites attract? (Schopenhauer)
24:28 Is love just biological encouragement to reproduce? (Schopenhauer)
26:06 Existentialists on love
26:14 The tension between love and freedom of choice (Sartre)
27:50 Love as an objectifying force (Sartre)
30:32 Jean Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir’s non-monogamous love story
31:40 The relationship between love and possession (de Beauvoir)
33:06 How your fear of being seen impacts your ability to give and receive love (Sartre, Doestoevsky, de Beauvoir)
36:54 Kierkegaard’s Works of Love
37:22 Unreasonable standards in love (Kierkegaard)
42:24 Lightning round recap
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
- Plato, The Symposium (c. 385–370 BCE)
- Jean-Jacques Rousseau, The Social Contract (1762)
- Immanuel Kant, Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals (1785)
- Immanuel Kant, The Metaphysics of Morals (1797)
- Arthur Schopenhauer, The World as Will and Representation (1818)
- Søren Kierkegaard, Works of Love (1847)
- Fyodor Dostoevsky, Notes from Underground (1864)
- Jean-Paul Sartre, Being and Nothingness (1943)
- Jean-Paul Sartre, No Exit (1944)
- Simone de Beauvoir, The Second Sex (1949)
- Gordon Marino, The Existentialist’s Survival Guide (2018)
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