Seminar
Description
LEAD 301.03: Philosophy in
Love and Friendship
Fall 2025
Michael Taber & John Crook
St. Mary’s College of Maryland, USA
College is often a time of large changes. Some of these involve
developing new friendships, and perhaps even romances…and stressing some
already existing friendships and romances.
This semester will provide us the opportunity to
examine some important aspects of the role of the self in some meaningful human
relationships. Each of us exists in a variety of nested sets of communities,
and people from different cultures may organize and experience some of those communities
in very different ways, but each culture has some central role for love and for
friendship. Aristotle says that we are social animals, and he was not talking
only about Greeks. He may turn out to be wrong, but not silly.
It is not enough, however, to say that human happiness needs love and
friends (even if it is true), for other issues immediately make themselves
felt. For example, what is the relationship between love and friendship: is
romantic love simply friendship + sex? What is the relationship between
morality and love or friendship: is it possible to love or maintain friendship
with someone whom you believe to be morally corrupt? Should we love others for
their sakes, or is this not even humanly possible?
Does the existence of a god matter to this? These and other questions cry out
to be addressed.
Address these matters we will, and in an appropriately friendly spirit of
joint inquiry. This is not to say that we will all agree about the matters we
discuss; I do not see sincere differences of opinion in a seminar as falling
short of an ideal. Our aim instead will be for each of us to explore these
issues for oneself, with each of us developing a better sense of what one’s own
views are on these matters.
We will approach these matters by way of our readings and seminar
discussions. We will look carefully at the readings, not because great thinkers
are always right (they aren't), but because great thinkers always challenge us
to put up or shut up. That is, if you disagree with something, say, Plato
claims, then you had better be able to put your finger on where in his
discussion he goes wrong. Anybody can say anything
("Plato is right," "Plato is wrong"); the task in
philosophy is to be able to support your position, both to
others and to yourself.
Course learning outcomes
At the completion of LEAD 301, students will be able to demonstrate their
ability to:
· locate and use a variety of academic resources at St. Mary’s
College of Maryland.
· communicate ideas, information, and perspectives through
oral communication.
· communicate ideas, information, and perspectives through
writing.
· understand that information resources, including the
creators and intended purpose of these resources, should be critically
evaluated as part of any information gathering process.
· objectively analyze information in order
to form a judgment, argument, or conclusion.
Land acknowledgement pledge
We acknowledge that the land on which we are learning, working, and
gathering today is the ancestral home of the Yacocomico and
Piscataway Peoples. We also acknowledge that St. Mary’s City was partly built
and sustained by enslaved people of African descent. Through this
acknowledgement, we recognize these communities and all those who have been
displaced and enslaved through colonization.
The goal of the land acknowledgment pledge is
not only to respect and honor the contributions of Indigenous Peoples and
enslaved people of African descent, but to support and learn from all diverse
communities in order to build a more sustainable
future.
Send me comments: mstaber at smcm dot edu
Go to the home page for this course.
Go to Michael
Taber's home page.
Go to SMCM's home
page.