Can anyone explain the meaning of platonic love and do you think it can be realistically applied today in our society? If so, how can it be achieved?
2007-05-12 12:51:12 · 5 answers · asked by oceanblue 3 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
Platonic love is a very close relationship between two people in which there is no sexual component. It happens all the time between people. It is not something that can "be achieved" it just develops from your relationship. In some instances, two people may develop a sexual relationship then maintain their closeness after the sexual relationship is over.
2007-05-12 13:08:39 · answer #1 · answered by Wiz 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The meaning of platonic love is society's way of being able to place labels on things. The word Platonic was derived from Plato. Plato did not invent the term or the concept that bears his name, but he did see sexual desire as the germ for higher loves.
Marsilio Ficino, a Renaissance follower of Plato, used the terms amor socraticus and amor platonicus interchangeably for a love between two humans that was preparatory for the love of God.
From Ficino's usage, Platonic (already present in English as an adjective to describe what related to Plato and first recorded in 1533) came to be used for a spiritual love between persons of opposite sexes. In our own century Platonic has been used of relationships between members of the same sex.
The love of a friend of the opposite sex is platonic love and does exist in society.
Unfortunately, men as hunters, have much more difficulty in remaining Platonic than women.
How can it be achieved? Through love, trust and respect for yourself and the other party.
2007-05-16 02:29:41 · answer #2 · answered by seychellesdreaming 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Platonic love is a love that does not use sex to consummate it. A sexless love. There is many forms of platonic love practiced in the world to day. One of the most common is the marriage of an older man and woman in which both have lost their sex drive.(Illness mostly)
2007-05-12 20:10:44 · answer #3 · answered by Sophist 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
All love is platonic.
Love is an emotion of affection for someone or something. It is a distorted social view that equates love and sex. It is the distortion of religion that leads to odd things such as people who love each other have to have sex with each other.
2007-05-12 21:09:43 · answer #4 · answered by guru 7 · 5⤊ 1⤋
So you're saying... one can't love without sex involved? That's just silly.
What about familial love? Certainly you don't suggest there should be incest. What about the love you feel for your friends? Do you have sex with all of them? If you do, you have a problem.
2007-05-12 21:22:10 · answer #5 · answered by Voodoid 7 · 2⤊ 3⤋