Plato (about 428-348 BC) On Love Plato (about 428-348 BC) was one of the main philosophers of Western thought. He grew up in Athens, and was a student of Socrates. He founded the Greek academy, which continued to operate until the 6th century AD (when the Roman emperor closed it). Among his students was Aristotle. Later in his life, Plato attempted to apply his philosophical ideas to the kingdom of Syracuse, with little success. Most of Plato’s books survived to this...

Erich Fromm (1900-1980) On Love I love the world through you Erich Fromm (1900-1980) was a German-born Jewish psychologist, psychiatrist, and philosopher. He did his doctorate in sociology, and then studied psychiatry and practiced it. After the rise of the Nazis he left Germany, and practiced and taught in New York, Vermont, Mexico City, Michigan, and Switzerland. For several years he was associated with Neo-Freudian psychologists, but he later developed a humanistic approach to psychology and philosophy. He published many books...

Simone Weil (1909-1943) On Love Simone Weil (1909-1943) was a Jewish-born French spiritual philosopher, and was also a political activist with communist and anarchist leanings. She studied philosophy at the École Normale Supérieure in Paris, and taught philosophy at a secondary school. She took a year off to work as a manual worker at a factory   in order to connect with the working class. She later participated in the Spanish Civil War against the fascists, until she was burnt in...

Miguel de Unamuno (1864-1936) On Love Love comes from compasion Miguel de Unamuno (1864-1936) was a Spanish philosopher, novelist and poet. After studying at the University of Madrid, he became a professor at the University of Salamanca, and then rector of the university. In 1924 Unamuno published articles criticizing the Spanish dictator Primo de Rivera, and as a resulthe was dismissed from the university and escaped to France. After the fall of Rivera, in 1930, Unamuno returned to Salamanca to become...