Text full multimedia monochrome

First time here?

Find out more about how The Lecture List works.

Coronavirus situation update

Our lecture organisers may or may not have had time to update their events with cancellation notices. Clearly social gatherings are to be avoided and that includes lectures. STAY AT HOME FOLKS, PLEASE.

Help!

Find out what you can do to keep The Lecture List online

Cupid and Psyche: Platonic Tale explored - ascent and union

Exploring the myth of Cupid and Psyche - a Platonic interpretation of its symbolism.


In the second century AD, Apuleius, a Platonic philosopher, retold the myth of Cupid and Psyche in the course of his novel, 'The Golden Ass.'
We will read passages from the myth, and explore the clear parallels between the trials of Psyche as she loses and regains her union with Cupid (or Eros), and our own experience of descent and ascent as souls "exiled from the orb of light" as understood by the Platonic tradition.

We’re taking two sessions to explore the delightful story and its insights - in the first we’ll look at the double descent of Psyche at the end of which she is left to wander across the material world in search of her divine lover. In the second one (on 9th March)we'll summarize the first session before we begin, so those who missed it can pick up the threads of the story. This second half concerns Psyche's re-ascent and her trials and initiations which lead to the reunion with her lover.

A PDF of the full tale, as told by Apuleius (translated by Thomas Taylor) is available on the Prometheus Trust website - see below.

No previous experience of formal philosophy is required.

Entrance in free, but donations between £2-5 will be welcomed.

A PDF download of the extract we will be reading is available on our website together with further details of this and other Prometheus Trust's activities: www.prometheustrust.co.uk (the PDF is on the "London Mondday Evenings" page.)


Speaker(s):

Tim Addey | talks | www

 

Date and Time:

9 March 2020 at 7:00 pm

Duration:

1 hour 30 minutes

 

Venue:

Saint Pancras Community Association
67 Plender St
Camden Town
London
NW1 0LB


Show map

Organised by:

The Prometheus Trust
See other talks organised by The Prometheus Trust...

 

Tickets:

Donation

Available from:

Register to tell a friend about this lecture.

Comments

If you would like to comment about this lecture, please register here.



 

Any ad revenue is entirely reinvested into the Lecture List's operating fund