What is love? The meaning of the word is multifaceted.We will try to define it somehow. Since every word has a certain essence, for better understanding it is necessary to illuminate the types of love and the diversity of the most ambiguous feeling in the world.
Lexical meaning
First, we determine what is the lexical meaningthe words "love". According to the dictionary, the lexical meaning includes the most common and significant features of an event or phenomenon. The lexical meaning is abstract to the limit and does not pay attention to specific features of the fact of objective reality. Proceeding from this scientific and slightly misty definition, which we also had to reduce, it goes: "love" (the meaning of the word follows) is a feeling of affection or sympathy towards a person or thing. Yes, sadly, things can also be loved. And some people love things even more than people.
Types of love
Classifications of love can be as many as scientists in the world. And perhaps, each person can give his definition and classification. We have chosen the following systematization:
- Eros.
- Phileo.
- Storge.
- Agape.
Sequentially characterize each.
Eros is love. It is "volatile", occurs quickly, but also evaporates instantaneously. Depends on the external qualities of the object. In other words, Eros is a passion without any other components.
Phileo - sympathy for a friend.This kind of love is not based on beauty. In this case, the person is attracted to the inner qualities of the other. Naturally, this feeling is more durable than the first and less changeable, but it comes to an end if the friend betrays or insults.
Storge - the love of children for parents or parents tochildren. This feeling is almost reflexive. It does not depend on the external characteristics of the object, and even often the actions of children (sometimes parents) are not taken into account. There are plenty of examples. Parents continue to love drug addicts and alcoholics. And children who grew up in an orphanage often look for their careless parents. This is Storge.
Agape is a special kind of spiritual love for man,which, on the one hand, is unconditional, unselfish and does not require anything for itself, but on the other hand, it understands everything and forgives everything. For example, a mother who loves her child sees his shortcomings, but forgives them, and does not turn a blind eye to the minuses of human nature, as in the previous case.
True, each classification has its own ideal.Agape, as a rule, is inaccessible to the average person (except as a result of divine inspiration), such love belongs to the prophets (Christ) and outstanding public figures (M. Gandhi).
As can be seen from the classification and examples, love(the meaning of the word including) is diverse and depends on what kind of meaning is put into this concept in this or that situation and what exactly it expresses:
- Friendship.
- Passionate love.
- Love of parents / children.
- Spiritual unselfish love.
It should be remembered that in reality there is no clear division of feelings and can not be, because chaos is at the heart of reality. However, we are ready to talk about maternal love and its ambiguity.
Mother's love
Ideally, the mother's love is either storge,or agape. More often the first, because the second - the destiny of units. Mother's love is programmed by nature. If it were not, then people would not survive the first years of life of their children. It is more difficult for fathers to develop social skills of love for children. That's why mother's love is unconditional - a gift from heaven, and father's love can be earned and lost. Mother continues to love all the time.
Thus, if the reader is stopped on the street andthey will ask: “What is the meaning of the word“ motherly love ”?”, he will not be confused and will answer. But that is not all. It is necessary to highlight the problem of the ambiguity of maternal love.
Moms and Goddesses
Yes, ideally, mother understands everything, forgives everything,always supports. But people are not brought up by gods, but by people. We learn from the parents not only good, but also bad. And mothers can not only love their children, but also put pressure on them, use them as a tool to achieve their own goals, which they did not submit.
Woman in some situations and cases morecruel than a man. But this is unpopular information, because it destroys one of the fundamental cultural myths that a mother is unconditional love and goodness.
But the ancients already knew how changeablethe female heart is not only in relation to men, but also in relation to children. The main goddesses of some archaic cults were responsible for both birth and death, with sudden, irrational and absurd death. The word "death" is also, by the way, feminine. And this is no accident.
In other words, it’s not so easy to answer the question what love is. The meaning of the word implies different interpretations.
Основная трудность при анализе смысла таких слов in that, on the one hand, they are extremely abstract — they contain an incredible number of meanings, and on the other hand, they are extremely concrete when an inexperienced person operates with them. One way or another, we believe that the task is completed. And if someone ever says to the reader: “As you understand the meaning of the word love, formulate quickly, without hesitation!” - he will not be confused and will answer.
