Chester Mind-Body Philosophy Seminar Series
Seminar No. 3: Philosophy of Romantic Intimacy
Friday, March 28th, 5:30 to 7:30 PM, at the Cave, 19-1 Bates Road, Chester, Suggested donation: $20. For more info call 526-9186 or email vood@cummings-good.com
In this class we will explore the ancient question concerning the sustainability of romantic intimacy. Does romantic love necessarily fade with familiarity and time, or can it be maintained and even intensified?
Our class will focus on the views of the late Stephen Mitchell, the now legendary psychoanalyst who wrote his late book on this pressing topic. Mitchell's theory is the most optimistic theory by any psychologist we know of, since he argues that romance can in fact be sustained and that the reasons it dies have to do with our unconscious sabotaging of our desires. We mentally reduce the charms of our love in order to protect ourselves from disappointment.
Readings
1. You can read selections from his last great work Can Love Last? The Fate of Romance through Time here at Google Books.
2. There is also a nice review of the book here at Salon.com.
