The Philosophy of Love: Lessons from great philosophers on human relationships

By Emily Brown

The book "The Philosophy of Love", Lessons from great philosophers on human relationships is a work that compiles the lessons of the great philosophers on human relationships. Through the words of the most important thinkers in the history of philosophy, the book offers a profound reflection on love, its diverse facets, and its role in human life.
The book is divided into three main parts. In the first part, the origins of love are explored, starting with Plato's theories on love as a desire for beauty and the idea of soulmates. Aristotle's theories on love as a form of friendship and the importance of virtue in romantic relationships are then examined.
In the second part of the book, the theories of philosophers such as Immanuel Kant and Jean-Paul Sartre are examined, who approached love from a more modern and rationalist perspective. Kant, for example, considers love as a form of mutual respect, while Sartre sees it as a form of individual freedom.
The third part of the book addresses the theories of contemporary philosophers such as Jacques Lacan and Martin Heidegger, who offered a new interpretation of love in an era marked by modernity and technology. Lacan, for instance, explored the idea of love as desire, while Heidegger considered it a form of openness to being.
Through the words of the great philosophers throughout history, "The Philosophy of Love" offers a deep and stimulating perspective on love and its importance in human life, providing the reader with a unique opportunity to reflect on their own experience and their relationships with others.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Greenbooks Editore
• Release date: Jun 5, 2023
• ISBN: 9788832957716

Book preview

Introduction to Love Philosophy

Love is a universal theme, which has always been the object of research and thinking by philosophers, poets and writers of all ages. In this brief introduction, we will explore the concept of love, analyze its different forms, its influence on people, and its importance in human life.

Love is a power that moves the world. It is a deep feeling and can take many different forms. Romantic love, for example, is a form of love that is born between two people and is based on mutual physical and emotional attraction. This kind of love may be extraordinarily strong and full, but it may also lead to disappointment and pain.

However, family love is a kind of love developed within the family. It is a kind of unconditional love, which is manifested in the care, protection and mutual support between parents and children, brothers and sisters, grandparents and grandchildren.

Platonic love, finally, is a form of love that transcends physical attraction and is based on mutual respect and admiration between two people. This kind of love is often associated with Plato's philosophy, which Plato regards as a form of pursuing beauty and truth.

Love can have a positive impact on people. First, it can bring greater happiness and satisfaction in life. Love can also promote personal growth, help overcome difficulties and enhance self-awareness. In addition, love can promote the establishment of stronger and more lasting social ties.

However, love can also have a negative impact on people. For example, romantic love can lead to disappointment, jealousy and conflict. On the contrary, family love can be a source of stress and tension, especially when problems occur within the family. In addition, platonic love can lead to feelings of frustration and dissatisfaction, especially when it is not rewarded.

Despite its positive and negative effects, love is a core component of human life. Without love, life has no meaning or purpose. Love enables us to build deep and lasting ties with others, overcome difficulties and enjoy life.

In a word, love is a complex and universal feeling, which has many different forms. Love can have positive and negative effects on people, but it is still a basic part of human life.

Love in Ancient Philosophy: Plato and Aristotle

Platonic view of love

The Platonic view of love was elaborated by Plato in the Symposium and in Fidel, two of his most famous dialogues. In Plato's view, love is a force that pushes individuals towards beauty and perfection.

Plato distinguished two kinds of love: emotional love and spiritual love. Perceptual love is related to physical desire and external beauty, while spiritual love is related to internal beauty and knowledge.

Plato thinks that sensual love is inferior to spiritual love, because sensual love is only based on the physical appearance of the loved one, while spiritual love pays attention to the inner beauty of the person. Spiritual love is therefore higher and sublime than sensual love.

In Plato's view, the goal of love is the understanding of truth. Through love, one can acquire knowledge of absolute beauty and truth, which is expressed in the ideal form of beauty and perfection.

In short, the Platonic view of love is a force that pushes individuals towards beauty and perfection, and its goal is to gain an understanding of truth through spiritual love.

Plato's Theory of Two Loves: Love God and Philia

Plato's theory of love and Philia's theory of love is one of the most famous and influential theories in western philosophy.

In Plato's view, the love God of love is the desire to have and combine with what we lack to achieve a sense of fullness and completeness. Cupid is a passionate love that drives an individual towards beauty and ideals and makes him desire to be associated with something greater than himself.

On the other hand, love is a bond between individuals who share the same values and interests and support each other. Philia is a kind of rational love, which is based on trust, loyalty and affection. In this love, the individual does not seek to possess the other, but to share a path of growth and achievement with the other.

For Plato, true and complete love is the one that unites Cupid and Philia and establishes a deep and lasting bond between them. Cupid's love is the engine that pushes individuals towards their ideals, while Philia's love is the power that supports and accompanies individuals towards self-realization.

In a word, for Plato, love is not only a feeling, but a force, which drives an individual to beauty and ideal, and guides him to share his life with others and reach a full and complete dimension together.

Similes of Love in Plato's Republic

In Plato's Republic, love is depicted as a force that drives individuals to seek beauty, harmony and perfection. Plato describes love as a desire to add something beyond us, something greater and sublime.

Plato talks about love in its highest form, that is, love that turns to truth, wisdom and knowledge. This kind of love, in Plato's view, is the highest possible form of love, because it enables us to meet the ultimate reality and the form of truth hidden behind the appearance.

Plato explained the essence of love with