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What is Love?

Of course, love is more than sex. But perhaps it's also more than those things that people think of as what it is beyond sex.

"If you love me you will feel for me, desire me." (sensitive/psychic aspect) But is not love more than feeling?
"If you love me you will treat me as special." (analytical aspect) But is not love more than specialness?
"If you love me you will do things for me." (formative aspect) But is not love more than work and achievement?
"If you love me you will listen to me and converse with me." (lingual aspect) But is not love more than conversation?
"If you love me you will respect me as friend." (social aspect) But is not love more than friendship?
"If you love me you will spend on me." (economic aspect) But is not love more than spending?
"If you love me you will appreciate me, find me beautiful." (aesthetic aspect) But is not love more than appreciation?
"If you love me you will do me justice, respect my rights." (juridical aspect) But is not love more than justice?
Is not love the utter giving oneself to and for the other
even sacrificing oneself,
however attractive or worthwhile the loved-one seems?

This is the ethical aspect of human living.


Philosophical:

Love involves all the earlier things, but is itself none of them. In philosophical language, love depends foundationally on them, but is irreducible to them. It is, in its whole and central form, self-giving.

In this there is a paradox: if in the apparent self-giving there is even the slightest tinge of self-seeking, it is no longer love but its opposite. See more on this ethical aspect of self-giving.

This philosophical understanding, and indeed the entire table above, is based on Dooyeweerd's aspects, which sees human living as multi-aspectual functioning.


This is part of The Dooyeweerd Pages, which explain, explore and discuss Dooyeweerd's interesting philosophy. Questions or comments are very welcome.

Compiled by Andrew Basden. You may use this material subject to conditions.

Number of visitors to these pages: Counter. Written on the Amiga with Protext.

Created: 5 March 2011. Last updated: