"Come i lupi con gli agnelli" Un ritratto antico dell'amore malato

This paper explores the concept of 'pathological love'through both contemporary perspectives and ancient philosophical texts, particularly Plato' s Phaedrus. Starting from the alarming persistence of femicide and affective violence in modern society, the study argues that such phenomena stem not merely from social conditions but from a distorted understanding of love itself. Drawing on thinkers such as Roland Barthes, Erich Fromm, and Umberto Galimberti, the paper highlights the erosion of relational depth in favor of narcissistic and consumptive dynamics. Through an analysis of ancient rhetorical and philosophical models, it identifies key traits of 'sick love'– possessiveness, volatility, and selfcentered desire contrasting them with a constructive, reciprocal, and educable form of love grounded in selfknowledge and mutual growth. [Publisher's text]