The word love has many different meanings in English,
from something that gives a little pleasure ("I loved that meal") to something one would die for (patriotism, family). It
can describe an intense feeling of affection, an emotion or an emotional state.
According to philosophers, the only goal of life is
to be happy. And there is only one happiness in life: to love and be loved. Love is essentially an abstract concept, much
easier to experience than to explain.
The definition of love is the subject of considerable
debate, enduring speculation and thoughtful introspection. The difficulty of finding a universal definition for love is typically
tackled by classifying it into types, such as passionate love, romantic love, and committed love. These types of love can
often be generalized into a level of sexual attraction. In common use, love has two primary meanings, the first being an indication
of adoration for another person or thing, and the second being a state of relational status. Love is an act of identifying
with a person or thing, capable of even including oneself (cf. narcissism; reverence). Dictionaries tend to define love as
deep affection or fondness. In colloquial use, according to polled opinion, the most favored definitions of love involve altruism,
selflessness, friendship, union, family, and bonding or connecting with another.
Some feelings that is often associated with interpersonal
love:
· Affection:
feelings of tenderness and/or wanting physical closeness
· Attachment:
satisfying basic emotional needs
· Altruism:
selfless or unselfish concern for another
· Reciprocation:
if love is mutual
· Commitment:
a desire to maintain love
· Emotional
intimacy: sharing emotions and feelings
· Friendship:
the spirit between friends
· Kinship:
family bonds
· Passion:
whole-hearted desire
· Physical
intimacy: sharing of intimate personal space
· Self-interest:
desiring rewards
· Service:
desire to help
