The relationship between Free-will and Love

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James_Tyler

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This came up in my introduction to philosophy class last week. We were discussing Thomas Aquinas. He said that in order to love, free will is necessary. (super short version)

I also was taught by Catholics that love is an act of the will. So I drew a conclusion that the character of the will can be viewed as loving or not. So therefore, a will that is not free to make its own choices does not have its own character.

The relationship between them then is that love is a choice of the will. When we choose to do something good for another then that is an act of a love.

So am I correct in characterizing love as a choice we make?
 
James_Tyler said:
This came up in my introduction to philosophy class last week. We were discussing Thomas Aquinas. He said that in order to love, free will is necessary. (super short version)
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Free will if it ever exist is an ability to choose. Love is an emotion which appears in given circumstances.
 
STT said:
. Love is an emotion which appears in given circumstances.
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Not correct. Love is a decision. It is a decision that people make over and over every day when they love people that get on their nerves, betray them, or are not related to them, among other scenarios.

Love is not a “feeling” or an emotion, it is a choice.
 
James_Tyler said:
This came up in my introduction to philosophy class last week. We were discussing Thomas Aquinas. He said that in order to love, free will is necessary. (super short version)

I also was taught by Catholics that love is an act of the will. So I drew a conclusion that the character of the will can be viewed as loving or not. So therefore, a will that is not free to make its own choices does not have its own character.

The relationship between them then is that love is a choice of the will. When we choose to do something good for another then that is an act of a love.

So am I correct in characterizing love as a choice we make?
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I agree with you conclusion, it is pretty simple really if we apply Aquinas’ common sense approach.

Can true love be forced upon you? Can you force someone to love you? Love in itself requires that it is freely given
 
Irishmom2 said:
Not correct. Love is a decision. It is a decision that people make over and over every day when they love people that get on their nerves, betray them, or are not related to them, among other scenarios.

Love is not a “feeling” or an emotion, it is a choice.
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If love is choice then why bother to invent another word?
 
What’s the other word?

The problem with characterizing love as anything but a choice, is that people expect love to be given to them, without any effort or freely giving of love.
Love first, then receive love. That’s God’s way.
He loved us first.
We simply return that love. And that is an act of free will.
 
Reflecting on it further.

I think it is a choice but with the right intention.
 
I have a choice whether to use regular or mint floss to clean my teeth. Has nothing to do with love.
 
pianistclare said:
What’s the other word?

The problem with characterizing love as anything but a choice, is that people expect love to be given to them, without any effort or freely giving of love.
Love first, then receive love. That’s God’s way.
He loved us first.
We simply return that love. And that is an act of free will.
Click to expand...
Ok, I see what do you mean with love is choice. But that is very ambiguous way of using words.
 
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