love
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.[1] It can also be a virtue representing human kindness, compassion, and affection—"the unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another".[2] It may also describe compassionate and affectionate actions towards other humans, one 's self or animals.[3]
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).[4][5] Modern authors have distinguished further varieties of romantic love.[6] Non-Western traditions have also distinguished variants or symbioses of these states.[7] 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.[8]
Love may be understood as a function to keep human beings together against menaces and to facilitate the continuation of the species.[9]
Contents [hide]
1 Definitions
2 Impersonal love
3 Interpersonal love
3.1 Biological basis
3.2 Psychological basis
3.3 Evolutionary basis
3.4 Comparison of scientific models
4 Cultural views
4.1 Ancient Greek
4.2 Ancient Roman (Latin)
4.3 Chinese and other Sinic cultures
4.4 Persian
4.5 Japanese
4.6 Turkish (Shaman and Islamic)
5 Religious views
5.1 Abrahamic religions
5.1.1 Christianity
5.1.2 Judaism
5.1.3 Islam
5.2 Eastern religions
5.2.1 Buddhism
5.2.2 Hinduism
6 Political views
6.1 Free love
7 Philosophical views
8 References
9 Sources
10 External links
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).[4][5] Modern authors have distinguished further varieties of romantic love.[6] Non-Western traditions have also distinguished variants or symbioses of these states.[7] 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.[8]
Love may be understood as a function to keep human beings together against menaces and to facilitate the continuation of the species.[9]
Contents [hide]
1 Definitions
2 Impersonal love
3 Interpersonal love
3.1 Biological basis
3.2 Psychological basis
3.3 Evolutionary basis
3.4 Comparison of scientific models
4 Cultural views
4.1 Ancient Greek
4.2 Ancient Roman (Latin)
4.3 Chinese and other Sinic cultures
4.4 Persian
4.5 Japanese
4.6 Turkish (Shaman and Islamic)
5 Religious views
5.1 Abrahamic religions
5.1.1 Christianity
5.1.2 Judaism
5.1.3 Islam
5.2 Eastern religions
5.2.1 Buddhism
5.2.2 Hinduism
6 Political views
6.1 Free love
7 Philosophical views
8 References
9 Sources
10 External links
References: Pair of Lovers. 1480–1485 Throughout history, philosophy and religion have done the most speculation on the phenomenon of love