The complexities of love, the influence of childhood experiences, and the challenges of building meaningful relationships took center stage at The American College of Greece on October 15, 2026, as internationally acclaimed philosopher and bestselling author Alain de Botton joined the ACG community at the Pierce Theater for an evening of thought-provoking discussion.
Organized by ACG’s Institute for Hellenic Culture and the Liberal Arts (IHCLA), the event, titled Challenges of Love, was held as part of the S. Sue Horner Lectureship in Gender Studies & Religion, established in memory of Dr. S. Sue Horner, an accomplished scholar and dedicated advocate for women’s equity and access to education.
The evening opened with welcome remarks by ACG President Ed Wingenbach, followed by an introduction from Professor Haris Vlavianos, Chief Consultant and Head of the Advisory Board of IHCLA. Professor Vlavianos introduced de Botton’s contributions to literature and philosophy, highlighting his acclaimed works on love, relationships, and the human condition. He also discussed how de Botton has brought these ideas to a wider audience through The School of Life, an educational organization he founded in London in 2008 to make philosophy and psychology more accessible to everyday life.
Taking the stage, de Botton challenged conventional ideas about romance, exploring how our earliest experiences shape our emotional expectations and why even our closest relationships can be a source of misunderstanding. With his characteristic wit and insightful observations, he drew on philosophy, psychology, and everyday life to offer a candid perspective on human connection, emphasizing the importance of empathy, self-awareness, and accepting imperfection.
The lecture was followed by an engaging discussion with Professor Vlavianos, whose exchange with de Botton expanded on the evening’s central themes. The floor then opened to questions from the audience, adding an interactive dimension to the conversation and allowing for further exploration of the ideas presented. The evening embodied the spirit of the S. Sue Horner Lectureship and ACG’s commitment to bringing distinguished international voices into dialogue with its community and the wider public, encouraging meaningful conversations that extend beyond the classroom.
The evening embodied the spirit of the S. Sue Horner Lectureship and ACG’s commitment to bringing distinguished international voices into dialogue with its community and the wider public, encouraging meaningful conversations that extend beyond the classroom.
