Love is a concept that has been explored and debated by philosophers for centuries. One of the most notable philosophers to delve into the topic is a Greek thinker who lived over 2,000 years ago.
His name was Aristotle, and his views on love are still relevant today. In this article, we will explore Aristotle’s ideas on love, including the different types of love he identified and how he believed it related to self-love and happiness.
So, let’s dive into the world of Aristotle and discover what he had to say about this complex and mysterious aspect of life.
What Is Love According To Aristotle
Aristotle believed that love, or philia, was synonymous with friendship. He saw two important elements that comprised his view of love – self-love and doing good for the other’s sake and for no other reason.
According to Aristotle, there are three types of love:
1. Love based on pleasure – This type of love is based on physical attraction and pleasure. It is the lowest form of love and is often short-lived.
2. Love based on utility – This type of love is based on mutual benefit. It is a practical form of love, where two people come together for a specific purpose or goal.
3. Love based on virtue – This type of love is the highest form of love and is based on mutual admiration and respect for each other’s virtues. It is a deep and meaningful connection that goes beyond physical attraction or practicality.
Aristotle believed that the highest form of love was essential for happiness. He argued that without friends, no one would choose to live. He saw friendship as a certain virtue or accompanied by virtue, and it was most necessary with a view to life.
Aristotle’s Definition Of Love
Aristotle’s definition of love is unequivocally altruistic. Love, according to Aristotle, is the act of wishing and acting to realize good things for the other’s sake, in accord with what the other conceives of as good. This definition emphasizes the importance of doing good for someone else without expecting anything in return. Aristotle believed that this type of love was essential for true happiness and contentment.
Aristotle also believed that love was closely related to disposition rather than state. He argued that a friend may love, but whoever loves is not necessarily a friend. Moreover, a man may love without being loved, yet friendship without mutuality does not exist. Therefore, disposition cannot be more important than state. For as more stable or more lasting a thing is, the more precious it is, and states are more stable as it is hard to change them.
Aristotle saw love as an essential component of friendship, which he believed was necessary for leading a life of contentment. He argued that friendship is a certain virtue or accompanied by virtue and that it is most necessary with a view to life. Without friends, no one would choose to live.
The Three Types Of Love According To Aristotle
Aristotle’s view of love can be categorized into three types – love based on pleasure, love based on utility, and love based on virtue.
The first type of love, love based on pleasure, is the lowest form of love. It is based on physical attraction and pleasure and is often short-lived. This type of love is purely based on the physical aspect of a relationship and lacks any deeper emotional connection.
The second type of love, love based on utility, is a practical form of love. It is based on mutual benefit and is often seen in business relationships or other practical arrangements. This type of love may not be as deep or meaningful as the other types but serves a practical purpose.
The third type of love, love based on virtue, is the highest form of love according to Aristotle. It is based on mutual admiration and respect for each other’s virtues. This type of love goes beyond physical attraction or practicality and involves a deep and meaningful connection between two people.
Aristotle believed that this highest form of love was essential for happiness. He saw friendship as a certain virtue or accompanied by virtue and believed that it was most necessary with a view to life. In essence, Aristotle saw friendship as a key component to living a fulfilling life.
Eros: The Physical Aspect Of Love
One of the three types of love that Aristotle discussed was Eros, which is centered around physical attraction and pleasure. It is a passionate and intense form of love that arouses romantic and sexual feelings. Eros is named after the Greek god of love and fertility, and it represents the idea of sexual desire.
However, Aristotle also recognized that Eros can be dangerous and frightening because it involves a loss of control through the primal impulse to procreate. The ancient Greeks considered Eros to be solely a physical love, which isn’t necessarily something that you want to build a relationship upon.
In modern times, Eros still represents the love for sexual intimacy and romance. It is embodied by that passionate, romantic love that is often depicted in books and movies. However, it is important to note that a relationship built solely on Eros may not be sustainable in the long run.
Aristotle believed in the importance of having friends in one’s life, and he saw friendship as a certain virtue or accompanied by virtue. Therefore, it can be argued that while Eros may be an important aspect of love, it should be accompanied by other forms of love, such as philia or agape, to create a firm and meaningful foundation for a relationship.
Philia: The Love Of Friendship
Philia, or the love of friendship, is a specific type of love that Aristotle believed to be the highest form of love. It is a deep and meaningful connection between two people based on mutual admiration and respect for each other’s virtues. Philia involves a genuine interest in the other person, and it is not solely based on physical attraction or practicality.
Aristotle argued that there are three types of philia. The first type is based on mutual advantage, where two people come together for a specific purpose or goal. The second type is based on mutual pleasure, where two people are attracted to each other physically. However, Aristotle saw these two types as inferior to the third type of philia, which is based on mutual admiration for each other’s virtues.
Philia of the third kind involves a genuine interest in the other person’s character and values. It is not simply about what the other person can do for you or how they make you feel. This type of love is good in itself and is more likely to last because it involves a deeper connection between two people.
Aristotle believed that friendship was essential for happiness and that without friends, no one would choose to live. He saw friendship as a certain virtue or accompanied by virtue and believed it was most necessary with a view to life. In summary, philia, or the love of friendship, is a deep and meaningful connection between two people based on mutual admiration and respect for each other’s virtues.
Agape: The Universal Love For All
Agape is a unique form of love that is universal and selfless. It is an empathetic love that extends to everyone, including strangers, nature, and those less fortunate. Unlike other forms of love, Agape does not depend on familiarity or physical attraction. Instead, it is linked to altruism, which is defined as an unselfish concern for the welfare of others.
Agape is often considered a spiritual love that is expressed through meditation, intuition, and spirituality. Christians believe that Jesus had this kind of love for all of mankind. It is sacrificial and radical, as the Greeks believed that very few people were able to experience it long-term.
In today’s world, Agape can be seen as a pay-it-forward type of love. It expects nothing in return and just makes you feel good. Studies have shown that Agape is associated with boosted mental and physical health and can leave a euphoric feeling, often referred to as a “helper’s high.”
Agape is the purest form of love that is free from desires and expectations. It loves regardless of the flaws and shortcomings of others. It is a boundless compassion and infinite empathy that accepts, forgives, and believes in our greater good.
The Relationship Between Self-Love And Love For Others
Aristotle believed that self-love and love for others were interconnected. He argued that the right sort of self-love was necessary for the best possible life. However, he also believed that the highest form of love was based on mutual admiration and respect for each other’s virtues. This type of love required individuals to put aside their own selfish desires and act for the sake of the other person.
Aristotle saw the good and noble man as someone who was capable of being both selfish and selfless. The upright man preferred to enjoy a second of pleasure to a life of indignity. He was generous and self-sacrificing when this was demanded of him. He was capable of abandoning everything for those who needed him, and he had no problem giving up the glory of an action to another person.
For Aristotle, the highest form of love was based on mutual admiration and respect for each other’s virtues. This type of love required individuals to put aside their own selfish desires and act for the sake of the other person. The good and noble man would be committed to his friends, his homeland, and his own community. He would look down upon material wealth but enjoy the benefits of honor and dignity.
In conclusion, Aristotle believed that self-love and love for others were interconnected. The right sort of self-love was necessary for the best possible life, but it had to be balanced with a deep respect for others’ virtues. The highest form of love was based on mutual admiration and respect for each other’s virtues, which required individuals to put aside their own selfish desires and act for the sake of the other person.
