"A Puzzle Concerning Reason and the Emotions"
In Plato’s Republic, the character of Socrates distinguishes three parts of the soul. The names of these three parts are sometimes translated as "Reason", "Spirit", and "Appetite". But what are these allegedly different parts of the soul? And why should this ancient distinction matter to contemporary scholars interested in understanding human beings? In this talk, I will propose answers to these questions. In particular, I will explain how Socrates’ distinction can help us understand the way in which people have some (mitigated) responsibility for their own emotions.
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
This yearly event is open to all, and the talk will be followed by an open discussion. The event takes place in auditorium A at University of Inland Norway at Lillehammer.
Related links
- Overview: The Lillehammer Lecture in Philosophy
- inn.no, October 2025: New Lillehammer Lecture in Philosophy
Contact person
- anna-sara.malmgren@inn.no
- Phone
- +47 62 43 05 81