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Jun 27, 2006, 02:15 pm
| #1 (permalink) (top) |
 Away  Location: Scotland, Central Lowlands Posts: 3,191 | What is love? The word love gets tossed around a lot on these forums, but I've yet to hear any definition that people agree on. Frankly, when people speak of love, I really have no idea what they are talking about. So what is love? Can anyone offer a definition of love? How do you know if you're in love? Is it any different from just liking somebody and if so, how? How does a loving relationship differ from a friendship? What about different types of love? Discuss... |
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Jun 27, 2006, 03:05 pm
| #3 (permalink) (top) |
 Volcanic Erupter Location: España Posts: 2,610 | ask this guy http://www.jokaroo.com/funnyvideos/whatislove.html |
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Jun 27, 2006, 09:37 pm
| #4 (permalink) (top) | |
| Molten Ash  Location: NYC Posts: 106 | Quote:
I believe there are different kinds of love: For example, I love my 2 dogs more then any man I've ever been with, but it's a different kind of love. I love my dogs in a mother-hen sort of way. It is a love that is unconditional, non-judgemental, and nurturing. With the few men who I have loved, I have noticed my love has waxed and waned with time and their actions. It is at times passionate, and at other times a throbbing dullness bordering on disgust and instense dislike. For me, I know when it's love after the high intensity 'honeymoon phase" is over and I am still just as enthralled with the person as I was in the first weeks and months of dating. | |
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Jun 27, 2006, 10:03 pm
| #5 (permalink) (top) |
| Rawr  Location: Behind you! Posts: 22 | I love that song. What is love Oh baby, don't hurt me Don't hurt me no more Oh, baby don't hurt me Don't hurt me no more What is love Yeah Oh, I don't know why you're not there I give you my love, but you don't care So what is right and what is wrong Gimme a sign What is love Oh baby, don't hurt me Don't hurt me no more What is love Oh baby, don't hurt me Don't hurt me no more Whoa whoa whoa, oooh oooh Whoa whoa whoa, oooh oooh Oh, I don't know, what can I do What else can I say, it's up to you I know we're one, just me and you I can't go on What is love Oh baby, don't hurt me Don't hurt me no more What is love Oh baby, don't hurt me Don't hurt me no more Whoa whoa whoa, oooh oooh Whoa whoa whoa, oooh oooh What is love, oooh, oooh, oooh What is love, oooh, oooh, oooh What is love Oh baby, don't hurt me Don't hurt me no more Don't hurt me Don't hurt me I want no other, no other lover This is your life, our time When we are together, I need you forever Is it love What is love Oh baby, don't hurt me Don't hurt me no more What is love Oh baby, don't hurt me Don't hurt me no more (oooh, oooh) What is love Oh baby, don't hurt me Don't hurt me no more What is love Oh baby, don't hurt me Don't hurt me no more (oooh, oooh) What is love? ¤´¨) If god created us in his image ¸.·´¸.·*´¨) ¸.·*¨) (¸.·´ (¸.·`* We have returned him the favor. |
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Jun 27, 2006, 11:44 pm
| #6 (permalink) (top) |
  formerly Isherwood  Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 13,761 | The question seems to make people uncomfortable. Three replied with other people's comments instead of their own thoughts and only one attempted to put their thoughts into their own words.  For me, love begins with a feeling of concern for another, human or not, that equals or transcends my concern for myself. What passions I have, like gardening or computers, are not love. Love is both an emotion and behavior. If I feel love for another, I act in ways that express it. I'm more considerate, more concerned, more in touch with the object of my love than I am all the other people or animals I run into during the day. I'm eager to see them, want to be around them constantly and dislike being apart from them. They become an integral part of my life, and my existence feels less dynamic when they aren't near. The Forum Rules Radical Atheist Heathen Queer Let's agree to respect each others views, no matter how wrong yours may be. (Ashleigh Brilliant) |
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Jul 1, 2006, 03:20 pm
| #7 (permalink) (top) |
| Pure Energy  Posts: 384 | I see Love as what's left when the smoke clears -the only driving force -the unseeable totality from which we "are". In action, all human enterprise is driven by love. As a warlord might truly despise his enemy, it is but for the love of his family. As a thief may steal indiscriminately, it is but for love of himself and the love of breaking taboo. As some may despise my principles, it is again, but for love of another principle! What is Love, you ask? What is Hate? The difference between buying and selling. Two views on a singular activity, or two activities? Love versus hate, or no contest? As Madge from the old Palmolive commercial used to say, "You're soaking in it." Whether this is recognized however, isn't relevant. To those who seek,seek love and it will appear everywhere, with it's life-partner Hatred ever in tow. For there are no shadows without a Sun. Love, Dadoo Heartbeat, the only song you will not hear until it's gone. |
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Jul 1, 2006, 04:43 pm
| #8 (permalink) (top) |
| BANNED Posts: 2,630 | I agree with the post above there are different kinds of love, and Greeks had the following definitions. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_words_for_love There are a number of different Greek words for love, as the Greek language distinguishes several different senses in which the word "love" is used. For example, Ancient Greek used the words philia, eros, agape, and storge to refer to different aspects of love. However, as with many other languages, it has been historically difficult to separate the meanings of these words totally. Nonetheless, the senses in which these words were generally used are given below. The first four words have also been discussed from a Christian perspective in the The Four Loves by C. S. Lewis. Agapē (ἀγάπη agápē) means "love" in modern day Greek. The term s'agapo means "I love you" in Greek. The word "agapo" is the verb "I love". In Ancient Greek it often refers to a general affection or concern, rather than the physical attraction suggested by "eros";agape is used in ancient texts to denote one's feeling for a good meal, one's children, and the feelings one has for a spouse. However there are a large number of exceptions in non-Christian writing where the term is used in a context where it means lust. The verb appears in the New Testament describing, amongst other things, the relationship between Jesus and the beloved disciple. Many Christian scholars have consequently argued that the verb's use in the New Testament is simply to describe God's love for humanity, while other scholars have argued that it has more romantic connotations. Eros (ἔρως érōs) is passionate love, with sensual desire and longing. The Modern Greek word "erotas" means "(romantic) 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. It should be noted Plato does not talk of physical atraction as a necessary part of love, hence the use of the word platonic to mean, " without phisical atraction". Plato also said 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. The most famous ancient work on the subject of eros is Plato's Symposium, which is a discussion among the students of Socrates on the nature of eros. Philia (φιλία philía), means friendship in modern Greek, a dispassionate virtuous love, was a concept developed by Aristotle. It includes loyalty to friends, family, and community, and requires virtue, equality and familiarity. In ancient texts, philia denoted a general type of love, used for love between family, between friends, a desire or enjoyment of an activity, as well as between lovers. Storge (στοργή storgē) means affection in modern Greek; it is natural affection, like that felt by parents for offspring. Rarely used in ancient works, and then almost exclusively as a descriptor of relationships within the family. |
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Jul 1, 2006, 05:08 pm
| #9 (permalink) (top) |
| Pure Energy Posts: 384 | underbear1- I enjoyed reading your research. Afterwhich I thought: Many kinds of apples, for sure. But, what is an apple? Many kinds of love, perhaps. Or more readily, one love, expressed in many ways and shown toward many objects. Heartbeat, the only song you will not hear until it's gone. |
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Jul 1, 2006, 06:07 pm
| #10 (permalink) (top) |
| Libertarian Location: S. Michigan Posts: 173 | Love for me is a caring thing: much like isherwood. Because I prize something I take care of it; whether it is an object, or a person. I also expect nothing in return, because my love is a very selfish love; one that only wants the object of my affection to be happy. But I would feel like a failure if I couldn't at least partially achieve that goal. So I guess love to me is selfless and a discipline on my part as much as it is an emotion. |
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Jul 1, 2006, 07:16 pm
| #11 (permalink) (top) |
| Pure Energy Posts: 384 | I agree. Love is selfish and selfless at once. It is wondrous and has many expressions. I wonder, as I leave the home, "Which one will it wear today?" One size fits all, Dadoo Heartbeat, the only song you will not hear until it's gone. |
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Jul 1, 2006, 08:55 pm
| #13 (permalink) (top) | |
| formerly Isherwood Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 13,761 | Quote:
The Forum Rules Radical Atheist Heathen Queer Let's agree to respect each others views, no matter how wrong yours may be. (Ashleigh Brilliant) | |
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Jul 1, 2006, 09:42 pm
| #14 (permalink) (top) |
| Gnostic Atheist  Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 26 | I think Love is simply an emotion. Interactions between neurons in your brain. However, on the subject of different kinds of love, there are likely several. However, trying to describe each kind would probably be like describing every single shade of colour expressed in a 32-bit colour palette. For example, I love my dogs. It is not a physical attraction towards them that is meant for me to procreate and produce offspring with them. Rather, it is the emotional satisfication I recieve from them. They are always there, and they always seem to care (though more likely they have no clue, however the emotional range of a dog allows them to comfort when they feel someone/something is emotionally or physically in distress). This kind of love is probably a built-in "herding" instinct in Humans to cement bonds with family groupings without leading to inbreeding. Dogs have been with humans so long, it is easy for us to express that love onto them. However, "true" love is probably a combination of the more trivial or "less important" ranges of the emotion. For example, "true love" is probably a combination of physical, mental, sexual, and social attraction, emotional and mental fufillment, and ability to reproduce. However, some of these are not as important as they where eons ago when humans needed these for basic survival. For example, one does not need to be able to reproduce to either produce offspring or care for offspring (through adoption). However, in a simple phrase, Love is a bunch of neurons. |
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Jul 2, 2006, 01:41 am
| #15 (permalink) (top) |
| Look Stuff Up Posts: 810 | What is love? What is love? A four letter word! "Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus |
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Jul 2, 2006, 10:47 am
| #16 (permalink) (top) |
| BANNED Posts: 2,630 | I find the hyper interest in increasing procreation/reproduction currently rather odd.If during Plato's time when the population was microscopic compared to current global population, and when wars were based completely with how many men were in your armies, and today the world population can be destroyed many times over just by one person pushing a button. I'd think procreation would be even less important. |
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Jul 2, 2006, 10:58 am
| #18 (permalink) (top) |
| Sedimentary Rock Posts: 13 | ref post 16 procreation isn't about army's it's about 'me', i want to care for and make lots of little me's which will be the best in the world whatever they grow up to be do, until the bitterly disapoint me and i disown them lol as has been said before love = feelings..... so what are feelings? |
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Jul 2, 2006, 12:30 pm
| #20 (permalink) (top) | ||
| It's simply logical  Location: San Diego Posts: 4,572 | . Quote:
- Bringing couples together for the purpose of procreation - Bonding those couples for the mutual job of nurturing and providing for children so they can be raised to an age in which they can survive on their own. - Bonding within families to raise children to become contributing members of the tribe, and for cooperative survival. - Bonding the tribe as a social unit for survival in nature. Quote:
. I don't suffer from insanity... I thoroughly enjoy it | ||
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