Roach explores philosophies of friendship and their impact on progressive activism

March 23rd, 2012

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SMITHFIELD, R.I. — In his new book, Friendship as a Way of Life: Foucault, AIDS, and the Politics of Shared Estrangement, Bryant University faculty member Tom Roach explores philosophies of friendship - from Aristotle's definition, which Roach argues creates exclusionary hierarchies, to Epicurean friendships that are open and receptive to the unfamiliar, to his own exploration of friendships as anti-institutional and foundational to progressive political activism, specifically AIDS activism.

In this podcast (9:35), Roach, assistant professor of English and cultural studies, talks with University Relations' Paul DeWolf about the book and his view that "the politics of friendship are at the heart of activist movements and socialist movements."

Keywords: activism, AIDS, College of Arts and Sciences, friendship, philosophy, podcast, Tom Roach