The purpose of this study was to compare Emmanuel Levinas's theory with that of Slavoj Zizek in terms of the correlation between Agape and Eros, in order to lay the theoretical foundation for solving today's various problems surrounding these two emot ...
The purpose of this study was to compare Emmanuel Levinas's theory with that of Slavoj Zizek in terms of the correlation between Agape and Eros, in order to lay the theoretical foundation for solving today's various problems surrounding these two emotions of love.
To this end, we first examined the works of the theologian Anders Nygren, who laid the foundation for today's research into Eros and Agape by comparing their relations from the theological point of view, especially focusing on the priority of Agape over Eros. And then we intensively analyzed Levinas's Agape theory, which, although similar with Nygren's, grasped both loves as complementing each other.
On the other hand, we examined how Sigmund Freud insisted that Agape is impossible and then looked at how Jacques Lacan inherited this tendency from him, and how Slavoy Zizek, one of today's most notable philosophers, presents Agape as a suitable solution to the numerous present-day social and political problems, while still putting emphasis on Eros.
After World War II, the tragedy of the Holocaust was revealed, and the whole world was devastated. German philosopher Adorno went so far as to say that writing lyric poetry after the Holocaust was impossible. How on earth could something so terrible happen? Many people thought that it was impossible to answer this question properly simply by conducting social and political analysis, and that a fundamental exploration of the inner workings of humankind was absolutely necessary.
It was at this time that Levinas, who was Jewish and also a victim of the Holocaust, came up with theory of Agape. He tried to overcome the problems of the times through the unconditional love for the others. But he couldn't only focus on Agape. If its relationship with Eros, which has been considered as the most important part of love since ancient times, is not satisfactorily explained, his Agape theory can be dismissed as insufficient. This is why he intensively analyzed this passionate love in a chapter titled <The Phenomenology of Eros> in his magnum opus <Totalité et Infini>.
On the other hand, Slavoj Zizek presents a theory of love based on Freud's and Lacan's theories which are thoroughly psychoanalytic ones centered on erotic love. This is why Levinasian love of Agape is impossible for him. Nevertheless, he gradually broke away from this exclusive focusing on Eros and began to focus on Agape as a possible solution for the numerous problems of the 21st century. He even argues in <The Fragile Absolute> that we should win Christian philanthropy through repeated struggles. In <Living in the End Time>s, the scope of Agape is extended to the indiscriminate love of the people that revolutionaries should have.
It is hard to deny that the two philosophers' discussions played a very important role in their in-depth understanding of love feelings in search of solutions to the various problems that haunt many modern people today, such as gender violence, racism, religious disputes, refugees and illegal aliens. Nevertheless, both at home and abroad, few studies have been conducted to examine these love theories focusing on the correlation between Eros and Agape. And no comparative studies have been found on the theories of two philosophers. This is why this study, which compared their theories of love, focusing on the correlation between Eros and Agape, was urgently necessary.