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what is love -
Love
is a basic dimension of human experience that
is variously conveyed as a sense of tender
affection, an intense attraction, the foundation
of intimacy and good interpersonal chemistry,
willing self-sacrifice on behalf of another,
and as an ineffable sense of affinity or connection
to nature, other living beings, or even that
which is unseen. It manifests itself in feelings,
emotion, behavior, thoughts, perception and
attitude. It influences, underlies and defines
major patterns in interpersonal relationships
and self-identification.
The
diverse range of meanings associated with
the English word contrasts with the plurality
of Greek words for love, reflecting the depth,
versatility, and complexity of the concept.
This diversity of meanings is reflected in
the many distinct classifications of love
including romantic love; sexual desire; platonic
love; religious love; familial love; true
love; and the more casual application of the
term to anything pleasurable, enjoyable, desirable,
or preferred, including activities and favorite
foods.
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concept of love is not amenable to one
authoritative definition. It is the subject
of considerable debate, enduring speculation,
and thoughtful introspection. As an approximation,
different aspects of love can be illustrated
by comparing its corollaries and opposites.
As a general expression of positive sentiment
(a stronger form of like), love is commonly
contrasted with hate (or neutral apathy);
as a less self-centered and more "mutual"
sign of intense desire, love is commonly
contrasted with lust; and as an interpersonal
relationship with romantic overtones,
love is commonly contrasted with friendship,
although other connotations of love may
be applied to close friendships as well. |
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In ordinary use, love usually
refers to interpersonal
love, an experience felt
by a person for another
person. Love often involves
caring for or identifying
with a person or thing,
including oneself (cf. narcissism).
The
very existence of love is
itself subject to debate.
Some categorically reject
the notion as false or meaningless.
Others call it a recently-invented
abstraction, sometimes dating
the "invention"
to courtly Europe during
or after the middle ages,
although this is contradicted
by the sizable body of ancient
love poetry.[1] Others maintain
that love really exists,
and is not an abstraction,
but is undefinable, being
an essence which is spiritual
or metaphysical in nature.
Some psychologists maintain
that love is the action
of lending one's "boundary"
or "self-esteem"
to another. Others attempt
to define love by applying
the definition to everyday
life. |
Cultural differences make
any universal definition
of love difficult to establish.
Expressions of love may
include the love for a soul
or mind, the love of laws
and organizations, love
for a body, love for nature,
love of food, love of money,
love for learning, love
of power, love of fame,
love for the respect of
others, etc. Different people
place varying degrees of
importance on the kinds
of love they receive. Love
is essentially an abstract
concept, easier to experience
than to explain. Because
of the complex and abstract
nature of love, discourse
on love is commonly reduced
to a thought-terminating
cliché, and there
are a number of common proverbs
regarding love, from Virgil's
"Love conquers all"
to The Beatles' "All
you need is love."
Bertrand Russell describes
love as a condition of "absolute
value," as opposed
to relative value.
Though
love is considered a positive
and desirable aspect of
existence, love can cause
a great deal of emotional
harm. Consider Romeo and
Juliet, Othello, Great Expectations,
and other classical and
popular works that enumerate
how love can lead to tragedy
and emotional pain. In human
interactions, love becomes
a peril when love is not
bilateral, known as Unrequited
love. A further peril for
individuals that love, or
can love others, is that
love is not enduring and
that many people have psychological
defense mechanisms inhibit
their ability to accept
or reciprocate love.
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there exist numerous cross-cultural unified
similarities as to the nature and definition
of love, as in there being a thread of commitment,
tenderness, and passion common to all human
existence, there are differences. For example,
in India and parts of Southeast Asia, with arranged
marriages commonplace, it is believed that love
is not a necessary ingredient in the initial
stages of marriage – it is something that
can be created during the marriage; whereas
in Western culture, by comparison, love is seen
as a necessary prerequisite to marriage. -Article
Source: Wikipedia |
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