What is love? A fundamental human need, or an emotional attraction or attachment to an object? The answer to these questions depends on the person and the situation. Humans are social animals, and our fascination with love is no different. Although the experience of love is based in our own personal experiences, we can also understand its complexities from a philosophical perspective. There are four main types of theories about love. The first two are largely reductionist, while the third and fourth are more holistic and a mix of both.
Historically, Greeks distinguished three types of love. These distinctions have been blurred by modern philosophers. But there is no denying that there is more to love than mere affection. It’s important to remember that human beings depend on other humans for many years. Love is a biological and evolutionary necessity. In fact, neurophysiological studies of romantic love reveal that the brain regions activated in response to intense affection are similar to those activated when people take drugs such as cocaine.
People who are in love experience lower serotonin levels than those without love. They think about their partner up to 65 percent of the time. They also show signs of emotional dependency, possessiveness, jealousy, fear of rejection, and separation anxiety. A study on brain activity after viewing photos of rejected loved ones revealed that people who were deeply in love with their partner showed more activity in these areas than those of the non-loved person. The findings are a testament to the power of love and its capacity to transform the human brain.
In addition to these aspects, love is a gift. We give and receive. Neither of us can ever fully appreciate the experience of love, which is a gift. We need to give love to our beloved in order to receive it. The act of giving love helps us trust someone. It’s a great feeling when our partners have the same value. Love is an opportunity for us to experience the highest form of humanness, and one that we can’t pay enough attention to.
True love is overwhelming, inspiring, and healing. A true partner feels heard and understood and can understand our needs. Mutual respect is another key component of true love. It never diminishes, even in the roughest times, and allows us to grow individually. Mutual respect allows us to see each other as equals and builds love. So, what is true love? In short, it is a wonderful and powerful feeling that makes us feel happy. It’s a bond unlike any other.
The definition of love differs across cultures and languages. In the Old Testament, it is called ahabah. In the New Testament, it is referred to as agape. In the Old Testament, ahabah has a more general meaning. The Greek word storge is used to describe friendship, family, and tribe. In addition to these words, love is also used to describe respect. But, the distinction between love and lust remains elusive.
