1. -Definition -Impersonal Love -Interpersonal Love -Biological Basis -Psychological Basis -Evolutionary Basis -Christianity
2. The English word "love" can refer to a variety of different feelings, states, and attitudes that ranges from interpersonal affection ("I love my mother") to pleasure ("I loved that meal"). It can refer to an emotion of a strong attraction and personal attachment. It can also be a virtue representing human kindness, compassion, and affection—"the unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another". As well, it may describe compassionate and affectionate actions towards other humans, one's self or animals.
3. Love in its various forms acts as a major facilitator of interpersonal relationships and, owing to its central psychological importance, is one of the most common themes in the creative arts. Love may be understood as a function to keep human beings together against menaces and to facilitate the continuation of the species.
4. Abstractly discussed love usually refers to an experience one person feels for another. Love often involves caring for or identifying with a person or thing, including oneself. The complex and abstract nature of love often reduces discourse love to a thought-terminating cliché.
5. Several common proverbs regard love, from Virgil's "Love conquers all" St. Thomas Aquinas, following Aristotle, defines love as "to will the good of another." Bertrand Russell describes love as a condition of "absolute value," as opposed to relative value. Philosopher Gottfried Leibniz said that love is "to be delighted by the happiness of another.‖ Biologist Jeremy Griffith defines love as "unconditional selflessness". Love is sometimes referred to as an "international language" that overrides cultural and linguistic divisions.
6. IMPERSONAL LOVE A person can be said to love an object, principle, or goal to which they are deeply committed and greatly value. People can also "love" material objects, animals, or activities if they invest themselves in bonding or otherwise identifying with those things. If sexual passion is also involved, then this feeling is called paraphilia.
7. INTERPERSONAL LOVE Interpersonal love refers to love between human beings. It is a more potent sentiment than a simple liking for another. Unrequited love refers to those feelings of love that are not reciprocated. Interpersonal love is most closely associated with interpersonal relationships. Such love might exist between family members, friends, and couples. There are also a number of psychological disorders related to love, such as erotomania.
8. Some people have categorized four forms interpersonal love based on ancient Greek precedent: The love of kinship or familiarity (in Greek, storge), The love of friendship (philia), The love of sexual and/or romantic desire (eros), and self-emptying or divine love (agape).
9. Storge (στοργή storgē) is natural affection, like that felt by parents for offspring. Philia (υιλία philía), a dispassionate virtuous love, was a concept addressed and developed by Aristotle. It includes loyalty to friends, family, and community, and requires virtue, equality, and familiarity. Philia is motivated by practical reasons; one or both of the parties benefit from the relationship. It can also mean "love of the mind."
10. Eros (ἔρως érōs) (from the Greek deity Eros) is passionate love, with sensual desire and longing. The Greek word erota means in love. Plato refined his own definition. Although eros is initially felt for a person, with contemplation it becomes an appreciation of the beauty within that person, or even becomes appreciation of beauty itself. Eros helps the soul recall knowledge of beauty and contributes to an understanding of spiritual truth. Lovers and philosophers are all inspired to seek truth by eros. Some translations list it as "love of the body."
2. The English word "love" can refer to a variety of different feelings, states, and attitudes that ranges from interpersonal affection ("I love my mother") to pleasure ("I loved that meal"). It can refer to an emotion of a strong attraction and personal attachment. It can also be a virtue representing human kindness, compassion, and affection—"the unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another". As well, it may describe compassionate and affectionate actions towards other humans, one's self or animals.
3. Love in its various forms acts as a major facilitator of interpersonal relationships and, owing to its central psychological importance, is one of the most common themes in the creative arts. Love may be understood as a function to keep human beings together against menaces and to facilitate the continuation of the species.
4. Abstractly discussed love usually refers to an experience one person feels for another. Love often involves caring for or identifying with a person or thing, including oneself. The complex and abstract nature of love often reduces discourse love to a thought-terminating cliché.
5. Several common proverbs regard love, from Virgil's "Love conquers all" St. Thomas Aquinas, following Aristotle, defines love as "to will the good of another." Bertrand Russell describes love as a condition of "absolute value," as opposed to relative value. Philosopher Gottfried Leibniz said that love is "to be delighted by the happiness of another.‖ Biologist Jeremy Griffith defines love as "unconditional selflessness". Love is sometimes referred to as an "international language" that overrides cultural and linguistic divisions.
6. IMPERSONAL LOVE A person can be said to love an object, principle, or goal to which they are deeply committed and greatly value. People can also "love" material objects, animals, or activities if they invest themselves in bonding or otherwise identifying with those things. If sexual passion is also involved, then this feeling is called paraphilia.
7. INTERPERSONAL LOVE Interpersonal love refers to love between human beings. It is a more potent sentiment than a simple liking for another. Unrequited love refers to those feelings of love that are not reciprocated. Interpersonal love is most closely associated with interpersonal relationships. Such love might exist between family members, friends, and couples. There are also a number of psychological disorders related to love, such as erotomania.
8. Some people have categorized four forms interpersonal love based on ancient Greek precedent: The love of kinship or familiarity (in Greek, storge), The love of friendship (philia), The love of sexual and/or romantic desire (eros), and self-emptying or divine love (agape).
9. Storge (στοργή storgē) is natural affection, like that felt by parents for offspring. Philia (υιλία philía), a dispassionate virtuous love, was a concept addressed and developed by Aristotle. It includes loyalty to friends, family, and community, and requires virtue, equality, and familiarity. Philia is motivated by practical reasons; one or both of the parties benefit from the relationship. It can also mean "love of the mind."
10. Eros (ἔρως érōs) (from the Greek deity Eros) is passionate love, with sensual desire and longing. The Greek word erota means in love. Plato refined his own definition. Although eros is initially felt for a person, with contemplation it becomes an appreciation of the beauty within that person, or even becomes appreciation of beauty itself. Eros helps the soul recall knowledge of beauty and contributes to an understanding of spiritual truth. Lovers and philosophers are all inspired to seek truth by eros. Some translations list it as "love of the body."
