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Session 39 Discussion

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Discussion Questions for lectures 37 & 38 of PHIL 20214

Discussion: Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night’s Dream

  • Do men and women compete differently when it comes to love? Consider differences between Lysander and Demetrius on the one hand and Helena and Hermia on the other.
  • Are you persuaded by the idea that erotic desire is imitative? Can this desire be explained merely by a concern for what other people think of us? 
  • Compare and contrast the imitative aspect of erotic desire with the type model of Aristophanes’ speech.
  • If love cannot be penetrated by reason, does that mean that love is objectionable? Discuss this question in light of another speech in the Symposium or the Phaedrus
  • Explain the significance of Puck’s attitude towards and role in what happens in the forest.

 

Copyright 2009, by the Contributing Authors. Cite/attribute Resource. O\'Connor, D. (2007, July 11). Session 39 Discussion. Retrieved November 23, 2009, from Notre Dame OpenCourseWare Web site: http://ocw.nd.edu/philosophy/ancient-wisdom-modern-love/discussion-questions/session-39-discussion. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License. Creative Commons License