The Concept of Love in 17th and 18th Century Philosophy - Essay Example

Love Ancient philosopher took much of their time to elaborate on the concept of love. In their efforts to make itunderstood, the likes of Aristotle classified it in to several types. However, the diversity of the concept of love has drawn diverse definitions causing havoc in settling at a widely agreeable definition. Generally, human needs and desires are similar regardless of skin color, religion, and even culture. With these many definitions and understanding of love, it is widely challenged from personal opinion and scholarly research. The common definition for love is the emotional attraction one has toward another person. This definition means that certain people feel the need to associate with the other person. However, this definition is challengeable due to its confusion with lust. In defining love from this perspective, it is worth to provide a detailed explanation that two are considered in genuine emotional attraction if they show committed to each other and handle their feeling through conflicts of interests (Cobbs 9). Thus, it should be more understood as commitment to understand one deeply and show real care. This kind of love is evident in Powers’ book, when Zaki states “It seems that you are ninety-nine percent in love when she doesn’nt know one percent” (34). This means that it should not be left from the point of emotional attraction for it much define lust, the craving desire towards a self gratification, which extend to the need for having sex. For instance, when Powers states, “I have not made love to a man since I left Belgrade to years ago” (73), this shows that the love in question is sexual involvement. Some scholars define love as how happily we connect to one another. This definition includes sharing oneself to others. It thus contrasts from the previous since this definition argues that when people are gathered at a place without any sign of danger, love just happens. Centrally, when sign of danger appears, people tend to grab and secure their loved ones to secure them from the danger (Ram 27). When it comes to assisting the loved one, assistance has no limit as one offers the best assistance ever. However, this definition lacks base for argument since the connection created among people has a reason. In fact, either of them or both have the interest to benefit from each other. As such, these people are not connected from love but a certain motive. Love has also been defined as the desire to help loved ones. In this definition, scholars believe that the desire happens without any instruction or a rule is a sign of love. This natural way of responding to people’s needs and rescue especially in the event of danger puts one at risk and may even die in the process (Boros 23). From this definition, it is evident that love makes one form brave decisions regarding assisting others, for example, in a fire event, a mother would throw herself in the middle of ablaze to rescue a child. At this moment, she does not care about the risk but the welfare of the baby. When love is between two people, it depends on how well interpersonal attraction is embraced and portrayed. Love is shown by the strength of emotional attachment one has towards others. The statement that love is kind may not be valid all round especially when it comes to affection between lovers. Among lovers, love is portrayed as selfish since a partner puts the other under restrictions, which may make life difficult for the person involved. This is because people are different and their interests are diverse so one thing may favor one partner and discourage others (Wages 27). From personal understanding, love is characterized by positive traits like forgiveness. More often than not, people and even nations offend each other due to differences in their personal attributes, difference in the environment exposure, education level, and religion (Ram 5). Some people are keen and very petty and will feel offended when the expectations are cut short while outgoing people talk much and are likely to offend introverts more often, and they get annoyed less but once angry, they cannot hide it. To live with harmony with others, it is important to seek forgiveness when one offends others as forgiveness restores friendship, which is a sign of love. If there is no forgiveness, conflicts and hatred are frequent to extend of a war which and violence in a country. This is because when people lack love amongst themselves, do not forgive, and do not care the welfare of others. As a result of selfishness, such people do not compromise their interests for the benefit of others (Nature America Inc.). Since a nation comprises many individuals who have their social behaviors at their disposal, if they have love amongst each individual, the nation shall be in harmony and violence will not occur. It is worth incepting in the understanding of love that when one’s efforts are frustrated in satisfying the need and desire to love or get loved, an emotional stress is experienced and may result to mental sickness and depression. This is likely to happen when the fears associated with love are not cleared out. When there is no solution to the fear, one feels withdrawn and neglected hence tension and may result to body illness. Therefore, the solution to issues brought up by fear and lack of love like genocides, state violence, illness, and endless suspicion is to express more as love beats all. Love can be enhanced through admiration, mercy, appreciation, offering knowledge and helping others. The remedy to illnesses associated with emotional fear is to seek emotional harmony (Cobbs 11) and self-appreciation as it boosts self-esteem and confidence. In conclusion, love gives value for oneself, value for others and value or the universe. Its absence or presence explains human behaviours in general and response to danger. Conclusively, love is a wide concept. As evidenced in this paper, it is possible to draw many new definition of love, elaborate more and provide clearer understanding of the already existing definitions, and at the same time contrast the already concluded definitions. Clearly, love gives value for oneself, value for others and value or the universe. Its absence or presence explains human behaviours in general and response to danger. From this paper, conclusions can be made that settling as a common definition, or providing an unchallengeable definition is an unrealizable endeavor. Work Cited Boros, Gabor et al. The Concept of Love in 17th and 18th Century Philosophy. Leuven: Leuven University Press, 2007. Print. Cobbs, Alizabeth H. All You Need Is Love: The Peace Corps and the Spirit of the 1960s. Harvard University Press.2000. Nature America Inc. What’s so funny about peace, love and understanding. Nature genetics, 2009. Web 27 October 2012. Powers, J. L. That Mad Game: Growing Up in a Warzone: An Anthology of Essays from Around the Globe. New York: Cinco Puntos Press, 2012. Print. Ram, Ramakrishnam. Many Paths, One Destination: Love, Peace, Compassion, Tolerance, and Understanding Through World Religions. Wheatmark, Inc. 2010. Torngren, Pat. Love and Understanding instead of Spankings and “Time-outs”. IPA. Web 27 October 2012. Wages, Kassim. Understanding Love. New York: Xlibris Corporation, 2010. Print. Read More