Twelfth century saw an increasing interest - along with tolerance - towards male homosexuality. Some unknown authors wrote short allegorical poems, in which they tried to find a demonstration of the right of homosexuals to exist - or even of their superiority to heterosexuals. Such demonstrations crossed theology and grammar. in a time when they were usually deeply intertwined in philosophical reflections. The reaction of orthodoxy, however, came swiftly: Alan of Lille, in his "De planctu Naturae", rebuffed such attempts as logically impossible. But were they? In fact, this essay tries to show the many inconsistencies in Alan's reasoning: orthodoxy was eventually triumphant, but this does not mean it actually achieved its main purpose - to demonstrate that homosexuality should not exist.
Ganymede versus Natura. Philosophical Implications of Two Twelfth-Century Works on Homosexuality
CHIURCO, CARLO
2012-01-01
Abstract
Twelfth century saw an increasing interest - along with tolerance - towards male homosexuality. Some unknown authors wrote short allegorical poems, in which they tried to find a demonstration of the right of homosexuals to exist - or even of their superiority to heterosexuals. Such demonstrations crossed theology and grammar. in a time when they were usually deeply intertwined in philosophical reflections. The reaction of orthodoxy, however, came swiftly: Alan of Lille, in his "De planctu Naturae", rebuffed such attempts as logically impossible. But were they? In fact, this essay tries to show the many inconsistencies in Alan's reasoning: orthodoxy was eventually triumphant, but this does not mean it actually achieved its main purpose - to demonstrate that homosexuality should not exist.
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