C.S. Lewis on Love (Part 3): Friendship with Women?

We continue our exploration of The Four Loves by turning to friendship love (philia), more specifically friendship between the sexes. Can men and women be friends without sex getting in the way? Lewis's early diary comments about women are not flattering. But something changes after his conversion. By the time of writing The Four Loves, he has married his friend, the American poet Joy Davidman. The Four Loves includes a strong defense of philia between women and men. But did J. R. R. Tolkien share his friend C. S. Lewis's optimism?

00:00 Introduction: Can women and men be (mere) friends?
02:43 Not a pretty sight: The young Lewis on women
13:49 Lewis and women's higher education in Oxford
16:57 Tolkien and women's higher education in Oxford
21:05 What is friendship?
34:13 Tolkien on friendship between the sexes
38:01 Lewis on friendship between the sexes
50:02 Conclusion: It's complicated

[laurenpaterson]

He was so unlucky to love a woman and know she is dying he did a great job with her son who is a great person