Most moderns seem to view unconditional love as a good thing. What do you think? Could it be immoral to show others unconditional love?
2006-09-06 09:24:40 · 11 answers · asked by sokrates 4 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
One inet source says, "by unconditional love we are speaking of love on the basis of being rather than doing. One implication of this teaching is the place of grandeur that it gives to the human being. I am lovable just because I am human; therefore being human, in and of itself, regardless of what I do with my humanness, must have some sort of independent value or worth. It is by itself a sufficient claim to respect and esteem" (p. 66).
See http://www.rapidnet.com/~jbeard/bdm/Introduction/uncondit.htm
But loving some people could be unhealthy for you or them. Additionally, why should I accept someone just as he/she is? Why should they just accept me as I am? Finally, I would say that some people might not deserve respect, love or dignity.
2006-09-06 10:34:29 · update #1
If I define unconditional love as a concept, an intention, even an emotion, and I seperate it from my actions, then I would agree with the moderns that it is good to love unconditionally. And YES, humans do have intrinsic value BECAUSE THEY ARE.
- HOWEVER, (here's the but...t) relationships are rarely, if ever unconditional. Dr. Phil uses the term 'deal-breakers' to indicate the boundaries of a relationship and what could damage or end it.
So, I believe unconditional love could never be immoral, but it would be incorrect to equate this with relationship boundaries or behavioral boundaries.
2006-09-06 11:37:53 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Interesting question.
It is evident that it's possible for some people to maintain their love for another person no matter how the loved one behaves.
Perhaps the answer is in the principle that "ought implies can" - you only ought to do something if is both something you ought to do and you can do it. And if you love someone 'unconditionally' and you cannot withdraw your love, then it cannot be said that you ought to withdraw it.
Then the question becomes, what does it mean to withdraw love? Is love withdrawn if you report the criminal actions of your loved one to the police? Is it withdrawn if you refuse to join your loved one in criminal activity? Can it really be a defense, either moral or legal, if you say "I didn't report that crime (or, I committed that crime) because I love person X"?
No, I think we have to say that unconditional love can be immoral if it requires behavior of you that is normally held to be immoral. Loving someone is no excuse for immorality.
2006-09-06 18:40:08 · answer #2 · answered by brucebirdfield 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All love is at least somewhat conditional--conditional on the recipients behavior. If someone goes on a destructive course of action, one does place conditions on meeting their needs, even if that condition is to seem pathetic enough to recieve that love, as in the case of an enabler. Therefore, all love is conditional on meeting some kind of requirement, and, per sad experience, the vast majority of it is very conditional on meeting another person's needs,
2006-09-06 18:59:08 · answer #3 · answered by The Armchair Explorer 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In my opinion, there is no such thing as unconditional or unselfishness unless the person is in a coma or retarded. We all do things that we think are in our self short term or long term interest.
Most cases of love are spontanieous moments of affection without a thought process that does not last long.
I suppose you could love your dog or cat but if you can't stop it from messing up your house you are going to let go unless you are retarded.
2006-09-06 18:15:04 · answer #4 · answered by Kuntree 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
EVERYONE deserves love, respect and dignity, regardless of their actions.
But loving someone unconditionally doesn't mean you have to agree with their ideas, or go against your own ethics to protect them.
Unconditional love doesn't obligate the giver of such love to anything at all - you're not even required to have them over for dinner.
2006-09-06 18:58:52 · answer #5 · answered by joyfulpaints 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
love has to be unconditional otherwise it cant be love . i dont think in love, there is something like ethics or what.
but otherwise when we think of society, love is mostly regarded as an unacceptable thing and when it is shown openly, it becomes nothing more than a show of feelings which is not ethical at all.
2006-09-06 17:17:51 · answer #6 · answered by muskaan 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
How could it be immoral to show any kind of love. I don't think that you should give yourself to anyone so totally that you give up yourself in the process but a little just fine.
2006-09-06 16:42:07 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
its not immoral but it is stupid. u think that ur love is unconditional but few years later u find out that it is not. again of course there are some exceptions
2006-09-06 17:21:25 · answer #8 · answered by vick 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it is unethical and immoral because unconditional love is beyond ethics, it is about will&passion, for me that's beyond good and evil. maybe it is delusional but what is the ethical/moral problem/issue on this matter?
2006-09-07 01:45:32 · answer #9 · answered by jingleh4m 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That seems ridiculous, why would it be immoral to love someone?
2006-09-06 16:30:33 · answer #10 · answered by ask the eightball 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋