Agape Reading Group

Below are some reflections on agape and feedback from attendees of the 2023/24 Agape Reading Group.

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Frank:

“I love the Agape Reading group, because in a world that seems to be full of negativity and bad news it is wonderful to see that there are like-minded classmates trying to find out how we can all be better people.

The selection of texts has been excellent. The readings so far have provided lots of inspiration and food for thought but also points for critical discussion. Whether other group members agree or disagree with the texts or one's own opinions, the exchanges we had were always valuable and there was always something to learn. 

So far I understand agape to be a concept stemming from the Christian tradition that describes a state of mind characterized by unconditional love for all living beings (or for all life, according to some), with various scholars offering a range of views on how this is best expressed in practice. Realistically, it seems to me that agape is something probably few individuals have truly achieved as a natural expression of who they really are. For most of us it probably remains more of a goal or an ideal to be strived for, the risk being it becoming a benchmark against which we unhelpfully judge ourselves or others. For me personally, agape is not some norm that prescribes what or how I should be (which would result in either an honest assessment of failure or a dishonest 'holier-than-thou' illusion) but rather an inspiration to guide my intention motivating the countless small and big choices I make every day. Thus, since unconditional love can in my view only be expressed through the intention behind one's choices, it is difficult to make agape a normative standard in an objective sense, because only we ourselves can know our true intentions (and usually they remain at least partly hidden even to ourselves). So I would encourage efforts to promote agape as an inspiration for everybody's choices, but it seems difficult to install it as a societal 'norm' that everybody should abide by. I believe that everybody has to figure out for themselves that ultimately agape is the only way to function productively in this world, and that learning that lesson is the purpose of our lives, the very reason we are here for.”

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Irina:​

"This was the first reading group I joined, as well as the first agape interaction I really had. The reading group has been a space to be challenged and appreciated simultaneously for me. It is definitely a safe space, but one within which we can disagree and argue against each other, while at the same time holding onto the belief that everyone there is trying their best as a human being as well as as a philosopher. While I definitely started to understand agape on a deeper level, beyond the definition of love for all, I've also had a chance to see agape agents in action debating concepts. To me, the reading group has been invaluable as a frame of reference to how different people interpret different ideas. ​

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I understand agape to mean being seized by love for any and all beings. I understand agape to be compassion when dealing with sensitive topics, as well as with human mistakes. On a philosophical level, I understand agape as the principle of using unconditional love as a guiding principle in order to understand what is required of us in ethical situations. I understand it to be the fire underneath the fight for basic (human) rights and all basic needs met for everyone. I struggle with [the question of whether agape should be our normative standard] because after a term of reading, I have not yet been convinced. I am convinced that it is the best of the solutions I have so far read, especially when read through a consequentialist lens. I also believe that, at the moment, it would be a step forward in the right direction for the international political sphere. However, there are certain parts of agape that I do not agree with on a personal level. For example, I struggle with the idea of caring about the wellbeing of criminals the same amount as for those affected by these people. Another example is the struggle between caring about the whole world and the people who mean most to you.  However, in the spirit of democratic compromises, I concede that agape could be our kindest and most ethical (yet) normative standard."

Jess:

"The agape reading group has been a great way to dive deeper into the agape literature and learn about different perspectives and applications of the philosophy. I’ve appreciated the intersectional approach we took which involved considering sociological and psychological points of view during readings and discussions. We’ve had some great, respectful, and thought-provoking discussions. I also loved the Pankhurst speech!"

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Lynn:

"It is nice that the content is broad, you can bring agape in different contexts. 1h is a bit short for the reading group, especially when we take a long time going through basic philosophical concepts. We could extend to at least 1h20min, or we can change the way we go through the reading to skip some of the less central concepts and go to the main idea."

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Tonia:

"I understand agape as a theoretical tool and a practical application of ethics, which strives towards a fairer and happier society through highlighting the importance of love. It is a concept that is helpful in an unbalanced world with a surplus of cruelty. Whilst being loving to everyone, including the cruel, might be challenging for virtue ethicists, there is balance in being agapic towards others provided that one is also being agapic towards themselves. To avoid thinking of agape as a naive concept that might lead to love towards tyrants, I think that an awareness of systemic challenges is important. But this should be a given, because, how can one love the world without understanding it?"

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Yukun:

"Philosophical depth not very in-depth, but still usually good insights and I fully appreciate your attempt to help everyone understand, even non-philosophy students. I liked the feminism weeks, motherly love is my favorite. Thanks for bringing in even arguments you don’t agree with. And I really liked Martin Luther King's letter from Birmingham jail."