There is an apparent contradiction between rationality and passion in Western thought since ancient times. On one hand, Aristotle saw that human beings have a rational soul capable of comprehending universal truths and living well according to them. On the other hand, Plato and Socrates believed that reason was the highest faculty of the soul while passions were unreliable and corrupting. Since then, many philosophers have debated whether rationality and emotion can coexist without undermining each other.
Immanuel Kant argued that reason must control emotions so that humans could act morally, but Friedrich Nietzsche insisted that life should be lived following our own instincts instead of logic. In recent years, queer theory has challenged this opposition between reason and desire as it considers that sexual orientation is culturally constructed, making sexual identities less fixed than previously thought. This essay examines how queer ethics of love can transform traditional concepts of morality and offer new perspectives on intimacy and relationships.
The opposition between reason and desire
In most philosophical traditions, the idea of dualism implies that there are two opposing forces or principles that compete for dominance in the world.
René Descartes divided reality into mind and matter, and Thomas Hobbes split society into selfish individuals who seek power and pleasure.
When it comes to human nature, reason and desire seem to be at odds with each other. Reason represents order, objectivity, and universality, while desire denotes passion, subjectivity, and uniqueness. From an evolutionary perspective, both qualities make sense because we need to survive, reproduce, and cooperate with others. But when they come into conflict, which one prevails?
Sexual identity and gender roles
Feminist theory has criticized traditional understandings of femininity and masculinity by suggesting that women's and men's social roles are socially constructed rather than biologically determined. Similarly, queer theory argues that heterosexuality and homosexuality are not natural but cultural categories that emerged under certain historical conditions. Sexual orientations are fluid, shaped by language and culture, and influenced by experiences in different contexts. Therefore, some researchers suggest that desire is more malleable than often assumed, capable of changing over time and place.
Love as a moral value
While love can be understood as an emotion or feeling, it also involves ethics because it affects our relationships with others. In ancient Greece, Plato wrote that Eros was not only about erotic attraction but also about friendship and understanding. Aristotle believed that true friends loved each other for their virtues, while Augustine defined love as the desire to enjoy another person's goodness. For Aquinas, love was a virtue related to God, who should be loved above all else. These conceptions show how love is linked to morality since it implies reciprocity and selflessness. The same applies to sexual intimacy, which is not merely physical but involves emotional and spiritual bonds. Therefore, love transcends rationality and passion, challenging the dichotomy between reason and desire.
Can queer ethics of love overcome the historical opposition between reason and desire?
Queer theory posits that traditional normative models of love based on patriarchal heterosexuality are not only restrictive but also oppressive. It argues that these models have been constructed through a series of discourses that relegate certain bodies and identities to the margins while elevating others to positions of privilege.