Love
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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:''[[love magic]], [[love is blind]]'' | :''[[love magic]], [[love is blind]]'' | ||
- | '''Love''' is a special [[affection]] for someone or something, a [[feeling]] or [[emotion]]. Various different types of love exist, which are generally agreed to have a commonality, but opinions vary on how they differ: | ||
- | # love between [[family]] members: parent's love of children, etc. | ||
- | # love of [[friend]]s | ||
- | # [[romantic love]] | ||
- | # [[sexual love]], also called [[lust]] | ||
- | # loving one another in general | ||
- | # loving something abstract or inanimate | ||
- | # loving one's nation or [[homeland|home country]] ([[patriotism]]) | ||
- | Some [[language]]s, such as ancient [[Greek language|Greek]], are better than the [[English language|English]] at distinguishing between the different senses in which the word ''love'' is used. For example, ancient Greek has the words ''[[philia]]'', ''[[Eros_(god)|eros]]'', ''[[agape]]'', and ''[[storge]]'', meaning love between friends, romantic/sexual love, unconditional (possibly sacrificial, unreciprocated) love, and affection/familial love respectively. However, with Greek as with many other languages, it has been historically difficult to separate the meanings of these words totally, and so we can find examples of ''agape'' being used with much the same meaning as ''eros''. At the same time the ancient Greek text of the [[Bible]] has examples of the [[verb]] ''agapo'' being used with the same meaning as ''phileo''. | + | '''Love''' refers 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 [[interpersonal attraction|attraction]] and personal [[attachment (psychology)|attachment]]. It can also be a [[virtue]] representing human [[kindness]], [[compassion]], and affection—"the unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another". It may also describe compassionate and affectionate actions towards other humans, one's self or animals. |
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+ | Ancient Greeks identified four forms of love: kinship or [[familial love|familiarity]] (in [[Ancient Greek|Greek]], ''[[storge]]''), [[friendship]] (''[[philia]]''), sexual and/or [[romance (love)|romantic desire]] (''[[eros (concept)|eros]]''), and [[Kenosis|self-emptying]] or divine love (''[[agape]]''). Modern authors have distinguished further varieties of romantic love. | ||
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+ | [[Stendhal]], in his book ''On Love'' (Paris, 1822), distinguished carnal love, passionate love, a kind of uncommitted love that he called "taste-love", and love of vanity. [[Denis de Rougemont]] in his book ''Love in the Western World'' traced the story of passionate love (''l'amour-passion'') from its courtly to its romantic forms. [[Benjamin Péret]], in the introduction to his ''Anthology of Sublime Love'' (Paris, 1956), further distinguished "sublime love", a state of realized idealisation perhaps equatable with the romantic form of passionate love. | ||
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+ | Non-Western traditions have also distinguished [[Religious views on love|variants or symbioses of these states]]. This diversity of uses and meanings combined with the complexity of the feelings involved makes love unusually difficult to consistently define, compared to other emotional states. | ||
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+ | Love in its various forms acts as a major facilitator of [[interpersonal relationship]]s and, owing to its central psychological importance, is one of the most common themes in the [[creative arts]]. | ||
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+ | Love may be understood as a function to keep human beings together against menaces and to [[human reproduction|facilitate the continuation of the species]]. | ||
== Romantic love as a form of mental illness == | == Romantic love as a form of mental illness == | ||
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== Further reading == | == Further reading == | ||
*''[[Symposium (Plato)|The Symposium]]'' (360 B.C.E) - Plato | *''[[Symposium (Plato)|The Symposium]]'' (360 B.C.E) - Plato | ||
- | *''[[The grass is always greener on the other side|On Love]]'' (1822) by Stendhal | + | *''[[On Love]]'' (1822) by Stendhal |
*''[[Falling in Love]]'' (1979) by Francesco Alberoni | *''[[Falling in Love]]'' (1979) by Francesco Alberoni | ||
*''[[Essays in Love]]'' (1993) by Alain de Botton | *''[[Essays in Love]]'' (1993) by Alain de Botton |
Revision as of 14:25, 4 January 2014
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Love refers 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". It may also describe compassionate and affectionate actions towards other humans, one's self or animals.
Ancient Greeks identified four forms of love: kinship or familiarity (in Greek, storge), friendship (philia), sexual and/or romantic desire (eros), and self-emptying or divine love (agape). Modern authors have distinguished further varieties of romantic love.
Stendhal, in his book On Love (Paris, 1822), distinguished carnal love, passionate love, a kind of uncommitted love that he called "taste-love", and love of vanity. Denis de Rougemont in his book Love in the Western World traced the story of passionate love (l'amour-passion) from its courtly to its romantic forms. Benjamin Péret, in the introduction to his Anthology of Sublime Love (Paris, 1956), further distinguished "sublime love", a state of realized idealisation perhaps equatable with the romantic form of passionate love.
Non-Western traditions have also distinguished variants or symbioses of these states. This diversity of uses and meanings combined with the complexity of the feelings involved makes love unusually difficult to consistently define, compared to other emotional states.
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.
Contents |
Romantic love as a form of mental illness
“The language of Valentine's Day cards and love songs-‘crazy for you,’ ‘madly in love,’ says Frank Tallis, author of ‘Love Sick: Love as a Mental Illness’ point to love as a mental illness
Further reading
- The Symposium (360 B.C.E) - Plato
- On Love (1822) by Stendhal
- Falling in Love (1979) by Francesco Alberoni
- Essays in Love (1993) by Alain de Botton
See also
- Amatory fiction
- Amour fou
- Cult
- Desire
- Eros
- Erotophobia
- Free love
- Interpersonal attraction
- Intimate relationship
- Greek words for love
- Joy
- Liebestod
- Love-hate relationship
- Love letter
- Love scene
- Love sickness
- Love song
- Lust
- Madonna-whore complex
- Narcissism
- Philia
- Platonic love
- Romance novel
- Romantic friendship
- Romantic love
- Romeo and Juliet
- Sexual revolution
- Unreason
- Unrequited love
- Venus
Namesakes