Basic questions, definitions (part 1)

[Spock]

I wonder if we can find a common ground about basic concepts, before some more complicated problems are scrutinized. After all, how can we conduct a meaningful conversation, if there is a misunderstaning about the building blocks?

So my first question is: “What is the definition of love we can all agree about?”. It seems to be an easy problem and it seems to pop up quite frequently.

My suggestion: “love is a positive emotion, which should be expressed in some actions”. Without actions it would be just an empty word.

Can we agree on this definition?

 

[Shike]

The word love is homonymous; it can mean many different things (hence your reason for defining it). But the corresponding definition really depends on what you want to talk about.

If you wanted to define true love, the highest and most beautiful love, the love that Jesus shows on the cross… then it is the willing of the good of the other; it is sacrificial by nature. [Note: willing in this sense is an act, which finds its fufillment in external expression].

Really it might be best to present your particular argument and then go into defining terms; the words become clearer in the context they’re used and your clarifications would hopefully solve further issues.

anyways…
ciao

 

[Spock]

The word love is homonymous; it can mean many different things (hence your reason for defining it). But the corresponding definition really depends on what you want to talk about.

If you wanted to define true love, the highest and most beautiful love, the love that Jesus shows on the cross… then it is the willing of the good of the other; it is sacrificial by nature. [Note: willing in this sense is an act, which finds its fufillment in external expression].

Thank you for your response. I have a bit of a problem. It seems to me that you do not differentiate between “love” and the “expession” of love. Of course I agree that one may profess “love” and fail to act in accordance with her assertion, and that would make the person hypocritical.

To me “love” is emotion, which says that one is supposed to act in the best interest of the loved one. In a sense it is close to “caring for someone”, but not the same.

For example: you see someone in danger, and hurry to the rescue. That would be “caring for the person”, since you don’t know the person, I would not call this act as an expression of love.

Really it might be best to present your particular argument and then go into defining terms; the words become clearer in the context they’re used and your clarifications would hopefully solve further issues.

I am not sure. I think it is better to clarify some terms first.

Have a nice day!

\//

 

[david_friol_1]

I wonder if we can find a common ground about basic concepts, before some more complicated problems are scrutinized. After all, how can we conduct a meaningful conversation, if there is a misunderstaning about the building blocks?

So my first question is: “What is the definition of love we can all agree about?”. It seems to be an easy problem and it seems to pop up quite frequently.

My suggestion: “love is a positive emotion, which should be expressed in some actions”. Without actions it would be just an empty word.

Can we agree on this definition?

Hey Spock
Finally! The last one!
Love huh?
Your question is a good one but it automatically restricts the Catholic view. You can pick up a dictionary a find a definition that we could all agree on :
love   /lʌv/ Show Spelled
[luhv] Show IPA
noun, verb, loved, lov·ing.
–noun

1. a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person.
2. a feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection, as for a parent, child, or friend.
3. sexual passion or desire.
4. a person toward whom love is felt; beloved person; sweetheart.
5. (used in direct address as a term of endearment, affection, or the like): Would you like to see a movie, love?
6. a love affair; an intensely amorous incident; amour.
7. sexual intercourse; copulation.
8. ( initial capital letter ) a personification of sexual affection, as Eros or Cupid.
9. affectionate concern for the well-being of others: the love of one’s neighbor.
10. strong predilection, enthusiasm, or liking for anything: her love of books.
11. the object or thing so liked: The theater was her great love.
12. the benevolent affection of god for His creatures, or the reverent affection due from them to God.
13. Chiefly Tennis . a score of zero; nothing.
14. a word formerly used in communications to represent the letter L.
    –verb (used with object)
15. to have love or affection for: All her pupils love her.
16. to have a profoundly tender, passionate affection for (another person).
17. to have a strong liking for; take great pleasure in: to love music.
18. to need or require; benefit greatly from: Plants love sunlight.
19. to embrace and kiss (someone), as a lover.
20. to have sexual intercourse with.
    –verb (used without object)
21. to have love or affection for another person; be in love.
    —Verb phrase
22. love up, to hug and cuddle: She loves him up every chance she gets.
    —Idioms
23. for love,
    a. out of affection or liking; for pleasure.
    b. without compensation; gratuitously: He took care of the poor for love.
24. for the love of, in consideration of; for the sake of: For the love of mercy, stop that noise.
25. in love, infused with or feeling deep affection or passion: a youth always in love.
26. in love with, feeling deep affection or passion for (a person, idea, occupation, etc.); enamored of: in love with the girl next door; in love with one’s work.
27. make love,
    a. to embrace and kiss as lovers.
    b. to engage in sexual activity.
28. no love lost, dislike; animosity: There was no love lost between the two brothers.
    Use love in a Sentence
    See images of love
    Search love on the Web

---

Origin:
before 900; (noun) Middle English; Old English lufu, cognate with Old Frisian luve, Old High German luba, Gothic lubō; (v.) Middle English lov ( i ) en, Old English lufian; cognate with Old Frisian luvia, Old High German lubōn to love, Latin lubēre (later libēre ) to be pleasing; akin to lief

—Related forms
out·love, verb (used with object), -loved, -lov·ing.
o·ver·love, verb, -loved, -lov·ing.

—Synonyms

1. tenderness, fondness, predilection, warmth, passion, adoration. 1, 2. Love, affection, devotion all mean a deep and enduring emotional regard, usually for another person. Love may apply to various kinds of regard: the charity of the Creator, reverent adoration toward God or toward a person, the relation of parent and child, the regard of friends for each other, romantic feelings for another person, etc. Affection is a fondness for others that is enduring and tender, but calm. Devotion is an intense love and steadfast, enduring loyalty to a person; it may also imply consecration to a cause. 2. liking, inclination, regard, friendliness. 15. like. 16. adore, adulate, worship.

—Antonyms 1, 2. hatred, dislike. 15, 16. detest, hate.

The problem that you may find in your quest for common ground(you have asked similar questions) is that since we are on “Catholic Answers Forums” and no Catholic should have any problem with these at all with possibly one very important point. Love is also, from the Catholic perspective, the greateast of the three theological virtues. But since you have said that you do not believe in God and I would hate to violate your invention of the Spock principle on my last post to your list of questions, I figure I’ll give you a break today!
Well Spock I enjoyed this very much and I have to thank you for that. If nothing else, I at least hope you can come to appreciate the effort. I gave it my best effort and I wish you all the best in your life in all you do.
God bless you always, and your family too! And if it is his will I hope he helps you find your way to him this year that you may live out your days sharing his love with the same passion you show now. Peace out!

 

[mcteague]

Why would we need to agree on definition of love? If really wanted to know, I would ask a poet not a philosopher.

 

[Trevor_Stamm]

I wonder if we can find a common ground about basic concepts, before some more complicated problems are scrutinized. After all, how can we conduct a meaningful conversation, if there is a misunderstaning about the building blocks?

So my first question is: “What is the definition of love we can all agree about?”. It seems to be an easy problem and it seems to pop up quite frequently.

My suggestion: “love is a positive emotion, which should be expressed in some actions”. Without actions it would be just an empty word.

Can we agree on this definition?

Agreed that love is almost required to show action of the self to the person that is loved, in so many words, “prove” one’s love to the another.

But that doesn’t define where love comes from. I would argue that love is, a desire to fill an emptiness. An act of, I would say, “needing” a dead space filled with positive matter, and replacing negative matter with positive.

 

[FCCopleston]

I wonder if we can find a common ground about basic concepts, before some more complicated problems are scrutinized. After all, how can we conduct a meaningful conversation, if there is a misunderstaning about the building blocks?

So my first question is: “What is the definition of love we can all agree about?”. It seems to be an easy problem and it seems to pop up quite frequently.

My suggestion: “love is a positive emotion, which should be expressed in some actions”. Without actions it would be just an empty word.

Can we agree on this definition?

Beyond a specific context, I do not see how it is possible to narrow the word “love” to a single definition.

Ultimately, however, I would say that God both defines and is love.

 

[awatkins69]

As you’re probably familiar with the Catholic tradition has largely been influenced by Thomas Aquinas. He said that to love someone is to will the good for someone. How does that sound guys?

 

[Gregory_I]

To love is to will the good of the other.

TO be “in love” is romance, and not the same as love. Romance is sensual and love is sacrificial.

Love lies in the will, romance lies in the senses, the emotions.

 

[fhansen]

To love is to will the good of the other.

TO be “in love” is romance, and not the same as love. Romance is sensual and love is sacrificial.

Love lies in the will, romance lies in the senses, the emotions.

Regardless of the type of love involved, I don’t think the will and the emotions are separable-and I don’t think one is superior to the other. Jesus’ sadness at Lazarus’s death, evidenced by weeping, points to this intimate connection between the two, IMO.