Loved and Unloved

Paper Summary:

This paper examines several different philosophical, religious, and contemporary definitions of the word "love", with an emphasis on early Greek definitions, and then looks at how these different definitions fit in with the notion of God's love for man.

Defining love: Background
Eros
Philia
Agape
Being Unloved
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"Being loved and unloved is not a debate for philosophy. It may be a debate for sociology, or psychology, but not for philosophy. Being loved or unloved is not a reality; it is merely a feeling. How many students, for example, say they are unloved and engage in crazy acts, as did that young woman who recently "kidnapped" herself because she was having boyfriend problems? She has a psychological problem, not a philosophical dilemma concerning the nature of love. It is the nature of love, which is an appropriate subject for philosophers. Indeed, the question "What is love?" has bedeviled humanity since it was tossed out of the Garden of Eden. While Adam and Eve lived in the Garden of Eden, they had no need of love, nor any need of "not love." Where they were was paradise, perfection. How can there be a need of anything in the midst of perfection? If one had a need, for love or anything else, it would not be perfection."

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