João Constâncio, Full Professor of Philosophy in the Department of Philosophy at NOVA FCSH, Director of IFILNOVA, and Coordinator of the PhD Programme in Philosophy at NOVA, was the most recent guest on the podcast O Princípio da Inquietação, an initiative of the Portuguese newspaper Expresso and part of the programme of Espanto – Festival Internacional de Filosofia (International Philosophy Festival).

In a conversation dedicated to the theme of desire, João Constâncio reflected on some of the central questions of Platonic philosophy, drawing on his book Três Discursos sobre Eros: Meditação sobre o Fedro de Platão (2025, Tinta-da-China), as well as on Lisístrata [Lysistrata], by Aristophanes, in its most recent Portuguese edition (2026, Edições do Saguão), which he translated and for which he co-authored the introduction.

João Constâncio further reflected on the relationship between desire and artificial intelligence, warning of the risk of an increasing objectification of our relation to the world, through the delegation of artistic creation, writing, and thought to machines.

At the end of the conversation, João Constâncio also spoke about the path that led him to philosophy and the way in which it continues to lie at the centre of his intellectual and academic activity, in a reflection that highlighted the depth and contemporary relevance of his thought.

The episode is available on the usual podcast platforms and via Expresso.

© Photography by Matilde Fieschi