what is love?

Question

this is for my philosophy class i would appreciate any answers you have

I'm not needing advice! what I'm needing are opinions, this is for my philosophy class. please DO NOT LEAVE ADVICE! only your opinion of what love is.

Answer 1

What is love?

Baby dont hurt me...dont hurt me....no more...

Answer 2

There are so many different definitions of love, that this is a very hard question to answer. There is puppy love -- that first flush of hormonal yearning. Then there is teen-age love, when going steady and holding hands is bliss. And anything else is scary. There is romantic love, when one is sometimes more in love with the idea of love than with a living person. There is sexual love, which is not necessarily tied to any of the other kinds of love. There is maternal love, with is deep and unending. And then there is true love -- the kind that doesn't depend on sex or romance or hormones, but involves trust, mutual support, fidelity, tenderness -- in short, the kind that lasts a lifetime.

Not sure if that helps or just raises new questions.

Answer 3

From a scientific standpoint from Wikipedia:

Scientific views:
Main article: Love (scientific views)
Throughout history, predominantly, philosophy and religion have speculated the most into the phenomenon of love. In the last century, the science of psychology has written a great deal on the subject. Recently, however, the sciences of evolutionary psychology, evolutionary biology, anthropology, neuroscience, and biology have begun to take centre stage in discussion as to the nature and function of love.

Biological models of sex tend to see it as a mammalian drive, just like hunger or thirst. Psychology sees love as more of a social and cultural phenomenon. Psychologist Robert Sternberg created his Triangular theory of love and argued that love has three different components: Intimacy, Commitment, and Passion. Intimacy is a form where two people can share secrets and various details of their personal lives. Intimacy is usually shown in friendships and romantic love affairs. Commitment on the other hand is the expectation that the relationship is going to last forever. The last and most common form of love is simply sex, or passion. Passionate love is shown in infatuation as well as romantic love. This led researchers such as Yela to further refine the model by separating Passion into two independents components: Erotic Passion and Romantic Passion.


Chemical basis:
Main article: Interpersonal chemistry
Recent studies in neuroscience have indicated that a consistent number of chemicals are present in the brain when people testify to feeling love. These chemicals include; Testosterone, Oestrogen, Dopamine, Norepinephrine, Serotonin, Oxytocin, and Vasopressin. More specifically, higher levels of Testosterone and Oestrogen are present during the lustful phase of a relationship. Dopamine, Norepinephrine, and Seretonin are more commonly found during the attraction phase of a relationship. Oxytocin, and Vasopressin seemed to be more closely linked to long term bonding and relationships characterized by strong attachments.

In December 2005, Italian scientists at Pavia University found that a molecule known as the Nerve Growth Factor has high levels when people first fall in love, but these levels return to as they were after one year.

"NGF level was significantly higher (p<0.001) in the subjects in love [mean (SEM): 227 (14) pg/ml] than in either the subjects with a long-lasting relationship [123 (10) pg/ml] or the subjects with no relationship [149 (12) pg/ml]. Notably, there was also a significant positive correlation between levels of NGF and the intensity of romantic love as assessed with the passionate love scale (r=0.34; p=0.007). No differences in the concentrations of other NTs were detected. In 39 subjects in love who—after 12–24 months—maintained the same relationship but were no longer in the same mental state to which they had referred during the initial evaluation, plasma NGF levels decreased and became indistinguishable from those of the control groups."[1]

Answer 4

It changes. Scientists have shown that we actually get a chemical reaction when it first happens. The older I got it wore off. Now I look at love differently. Someone I am compatible with, enjoy being around, care about greatly, similiar life/financial goals, and good sex all encompass my love for my fiance'. Not just that chemical reaction anymore.

Answer 5

Love is the mechanism the human race has for prolonging the specie. Special endorphins are produced by the brain, so we feel pleasure while being in love and we decide to reproduce.
I wonder what is the reason for this. Who is in charge of this behavior?

Answer 6

Love is a pure feeling of joy and goodness, devoid of any hate, anger or selfishness. It is pure warmth, pure tenderness and pure unselfishness. It is a connection between 2 people that comes from the core of their being.

Answer 7

If your professor is looking for the definition of love from the perspective of a militant feminist, here it is: Something men fake to get laid, and something overly dependent women fake to get money!

Answer 8

Love is a feeling. It is something that you cannot define actually, because it consists of so many different elements. And their is also different kinds of love.Love for your mother, love for your spouse, love for your dog.True love is not reversable.

Answer 9

It's a curse, a disease, the most maddening and sickening feeling in the world and yet we can't get enough of it.

Answer 10

love is being happy with the person inside of yourself because if you cant love yourself then you wont be able to love anyone else

Answer 11

Can you see yourself with her/him for the rest of your life.
or
Can you not see yourself without her/him.

If you just cant stop thinking about that person and you just couldnt imagine not being with her/him then your in love.

Thats what I think.