# 
Love

By [Akutogava](https://paragraph.com/@akutogava) · 2023-05-30

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**Love** encompasses a range of strong and positive emotional and [mental states](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_states), from the most sublime [virtue](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtue) or good habit, the deepest [interpersonal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interpersonal_relationship) [affection](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Affection), to the simplest pleasure.[\[1\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love#cite_note-1)[\[2\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love#cite_note-2) An example of this range of meanings is that the love of a mother differs from the love of a spouse, which differs from the love for food. Most commonly, love refers to a feeling of a strong attraction and emotional [attachment](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attachment_\(psychology\)).[\[3\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love#cite_note-oxford-3)[\[4\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love#cite_note-Definition_of_Love_by_Merriam-Webster_1987-4)[\[5\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love#cite_note-5)

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Love is considered to be both positive and negative, with its [virtue](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtue) representing human [kindness](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kindness), [compassion](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compassion), and [affection](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Affection), as "the unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another" and its [vice](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vice) representing human [moral flaw](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morality), akin to [vanity](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanity), [selfishness](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selfishness), [amour-propre](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amour-propre), and [egotism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egotism), as potentially leading people into a type of [mania](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mania), [obsessiveness](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obsessive_love) or [codependency](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Codependency).[\[6\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love#cite_note-6)[\[7\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love#cite_note-7) It may also describe compassionate and affectionate actions towards other humans, one's self, or animals.[\[8\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love#cite_note-Fromm,_Erich_1956-8) In its various forms, love acts as a major facilitator of [interpersonal relationships](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interpersonal_relationship) and, owing to its central psychological importance, is one of the most common themes in the [creative arts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creative_arts).[\[9\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love#cite_note-9) Love has been postulated to be a function that keeps human beings together against menaces and to [facilitate the continuation of the species](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_reproduction).[\[10\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love#cite_note-Fisher-10)

Ancient Greek philosophers identified [six forms of love](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_words_for_love): essentially, [familial love](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Familial_love) (in [Greek](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Greek), [_Storge_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Storge)), [friendly love](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friendship) or [platonic love](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platonic_love) ([_Philia_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philia)), [romantic love](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romance_\(love\)) ([_Eros_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eros_\(concept\))), [self-love](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-love) ([_Philautia_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philautia)), [guest love](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hospitality) ([_Xenia_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xenia_\(Greek\))), and divine or [unconditional love](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unconditional_love) ([_Agape_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agape)). Modern authors have distinguished further varieties of love: [unrequited love](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unrequited_love), [empty love](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empty_love), [companionate love](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Companionate_love), [consummate love](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consummate_love), [infatuated love](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limerence), [self-love](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amour_de_soi), and [courtly love](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Courtly_love). Numerous cultures have also distinguished [_Ren_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ren_\(Confucianism\)), [_Yuanfen_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuanfen), [_Mamihlapinatapai_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mamihlapinatapai), [_Cafuné_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_intimacy), [_Kama_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kama), [_Bhakti_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhakti), [_Mettā_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mett%C4%81), [_Ishq_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ishq), [_Chesed_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chesed), [_Amore_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cupid), [_Charity_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charity_\(virtue\)), [_Saudade_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudade) (and other [variants or symbioses of these states](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_views_on_love)), as culturally unique words, definitions, or expressions of love in regards to a specified "moments" currently lacking in the English language.[\[11\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love#cite_note-11)[\[12\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love#cite_note-12)[\[13\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love#cite_note-Gita-13)

Scientific research on emotion has increased significantly over the past two decades. The [color wheel theory of love](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_wheel_theory_of_love) defines three primary, three secondary and nine tertiary love styles, describing them in terms of the traditional color wheel. The [triangular theory of love](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triangular_theory_of_love) suggests "intimacy, passion and commitment" are core components of love. Love has additional religious or [spiritual](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiritual_but_not_religious) meaning. This diversity of uses and meanings combined with the complexity of the feelings involved makes love unusually difficult to consistently define, compared to other emotional states.

Definitions
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The word "love" can have a variety of related but distinct meanings in different contexts. Many other languages use multiple words to express some of the different concepts that in English are denoted as "love"; one example is the plurality of [Greek concepts for "love"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_words_for_love) (_agape_, _eros_, _philia_, _storge_) .[\[14\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love#cite_note-14) [Cultural differences](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_identity) in conceptualizing love thus doubly impede the establishment of a universal definition.[\[15\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love#cite_note-15)

Although the nature or [essence](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essence) of love is a subject of frequent debate, different aspects of the word can be clarified by determining what _isn't_ love (antonyms of "love"). Love as a general expression of positive sentiment (a stronger form of _like_) is commonly contrasted with [hate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hate) (or neutral [apathy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apathy)). As a less-sexual and more-[emotionally intimate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emotional_intimacy) form of romantic attachment, love is commonly contrasted with [lust](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lust). As an interpersonal relationship with romantic overtones, love is sometimes contrasted with [friendship](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friendship), although the word _love_ is often applied to close friendships or platonic love. (Further possible ambiguities come with usages "girlfriend", "boyfriend", "just good friends").

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*Originally published on [Akutogava](https://paragraph.com/@akutogava/love)*