Abstract
This chapter explores the meaning of Eros and its relationship to education. The Greek categories of Eros, Xenia, Philia, Storge, and Agape are used a framework for this discussion. Each form is examined and their possible meanings in an educational context.
Up until the modern age, Eros was seen as central to human life. The Greek poet, Hesiod, suggested that Eros was the most ancient of the Gods, and his function was to “coordinate the elements that constitute the universe.” Eros was the personification of the forces that bring harmony out of chaos in the universe. Later Eros was linked to human love through the myth of Eros and Psyche. Bringing Eros into our discussions of education can help move the dialogue away from its limited focus on accountability to broader and more inclusive vision.
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Miller, J.P. (2009). Education and Eros. In: de Souza, M., Francis, L.J., O’Higgins-Norman, J., Scott, D. (eds) International Handbook of Education for Spirituality, Care and Wellbeing. International Handbooks of Religion and Education, vol 3. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-9018-9_31
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-9018-9_31
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