Central and East European
Society for Phenomenology

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147490

The obsession with Eros as pointing beyond itself

Ralph Ellis

pp. 201-218

Abstract

An obvious manifestation of the problematic nature of eros for modern people which lends itself to phenomenological reflection is the way contemporary culture is increasingly "obsessed with sex.' Problems of sexuality almost always present themselves as embedded in the larger and more earthshaking problems of eros. As we have already seen in the chapter on "Sexuality and Infatuation,' sexuality originarily intends not merely the reduction of a physiological deficit, but rather that I become an object of sexual attention and admiration for the other's subjectivity. Thus the sexual urge ultimately intends that infatuation feelings develop, which in the case of beings whose consciousness is well-developed also tends to lead toward a space of empathy. And the space of empathy, when combined with sexual and infatuation feelings, will lead at times of existential need to the full feeling of eros.

Publication details

Published in:

Ellis Ralph (1996) Eros in a narcissistic culture: an analysis anchored in the life-world. Dordrecht, Springer.

Pages: 201-218

DOI: 10.1007/978-94-009-1661-6_7

Full citation:

Ellis Ralph (1996) The obsession with Eros as pointing beyond itself, In: Eros in a narcissistic culture, Dordrecht, Springer, 201–218.