What is Love: Definition and 339 Discussions

Love encompasses a range of strong and positive emotional and mental states, from the most sublime virtue or good habit, the deepest interpersonal affection, to the simplest pleasure. An example of this range of meanings is that the love of a mother differs from the love of a spouse, which differs from the love of food. Most commonly, love refers to a feeling of strong attraction and emotional attachment.Love is considered to be both positive and negative, with its virtue representing human kindness, compassion, and affection, as "the unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another" and its vice representing human moral flaw, akin to vanity, selfishness, amour-propre, and egotism, as potentially leading people into a type of mania, obsessiveness or codependency. It may also describe compassionate and affectionate actions towards other humans, one's self or animals. In its various forms, love acts as a major facilitator of interpersonal relationships and, owing to its central psychological importance, is one of the most common themes in the creative arts. Love has been postulated to be a function that keeps human beings together against menaces and to facilitate the continuation of the species.Ancient Greek philosophers identified six forms of love: essentially, familial love (in Greek, Storge), friendly love or platonic love (Philia), romantic love (Eros), self-love (Philautia), guest love (Xenia) and divine love (Agape). Modern authors have distinguished further varieties of love: unrequited love, empty love, companionate love, consummate love, infatuated love, self-love, and courtly love. Numerous cultures have also distinguished Ren, Yuanfen, Mamihlapinatapai, Cafuné, Kama, Bhakti, Mettā, Ishq, Chesed, Amore, Charity, Saudade (and other variants or symbioses of these states), as culturally unique words, definitions, or expressions of love in regards to a specified "moments" currently lacking in the English language.Scientific research on emotion has increased significantly over the past two decades. The color wheel theory of love defines three primary, three secondary and nine tertiary love styles, describing them in terms of the traditional color wheel. The triangular theory of love suggests "intimacy, passion and commitment" are core components of love. Love has additional religious or spiritual meaning. This diversity of uses and meanings combined with the complexity of the feelings involved makes love unusually difficult to consistently define, compared to other emotional states.

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  1. KenAsh

    Hello hello please

    HEllO please I love you
  2. T

    Can Falling in Love Increase Longevity? Psychology & Science Explained

    Hi again all, hope you are all doing great and enjoying the spring as well as nice weather. This is sort of a continuation thread of my falling in love thread here that I posted a while back but with a new question witch is: Can I get the same effect to live longer by falling in love, having sex...
  3. yezia

    Which MSc to do after BSc physics if you love to code?

    Hi everyone! Merry christmas first and I hope you're getting great rest with close ones around :) Well, as title may suggest it, I will graduate soon in physics and I'm not sure of the next step in my academic curriculum. I like theoretical physics, I've touched upon most fondamental physics...
  4. P

    Why I Love Physics: A Personal Reflection on the Fascinating World of Science

    Summary: I always feel so satisfied when I self-study physics. It takes me time to truly appreciate what I'm learning when I'm under the pressure of university exams, but eventually when I understand it, I love it too. However, I can't explain why I love it. Hey everyone, I appreciate this...
  5. J

    I love Octonions as well as alternative propulsion ideas

    How did you find PF?: Google Hi folks! Title sums it up pretty well. Alternative propulsion is cool, despite the amount of woo that tends to permeate the topic. I enjoy finding first-principles solutions for far-out claims.
  6. K

    Ideas for novel I'm writing I would love some insight on a concept

    Summary:: Ideas for a novel I want to begin writing. Brainstorming ideas and need help with a certain concept. Any help is appreciated! Hello to you all, this is my first post, and I Google searched this astrophysics forum because I thought it might be a good place to begin asking for advice...
  7. T

    Falling in love, having sex and being happy makes you live longer?

    Is it true? what do studies say about this? is there any proof or evidence that supports this?
  8. Hamiltonian

    Physics I love studying physics but can i get a job

    I am in high school and will be going to college in less than 2 years. I love studying physics and I would love to study and gain more knowledge in the field. Right now I am barely scratching the surface and I really want to study the subject in depth. I am reminded time and again having a...
  9. E

    Physics I love physics, but I want more money and I'm considering a career change

    I am at a huge crossroads in life and in need of some guidance. I graduated two years ago with a B.S. in Physics from an R1 university, and am currently in my second year of a physics PhD program at a different R1 university. From the moment I had my first research experience in high school, I...
  10. BillTre

    Lingusitics Love Means Different Things in Different Languages

    A recent study (Science mag news report) has shown that words for love are associated with different emotions in different languages and therefore vary in meaning somewhat. Comparing networks of related terms in different languages has revealed these differences. Love related groups of words are...
  11. N

    I would love to hear about how you study math books

    Summary: self study math books I wanted to make a post, been a while since my last one. I been taking a few weeks off but back studying linear algebra done right, and i notice a few things. First i will find myself reading the chapter, and fooling myself i get it, but then struggle with the...
  12. D

    Physics Love physics: study engineering

    I love physics, I’m literarily fascinated and passionate about it. Although I would like to focus on applying physics on real world projects (more than on research or discovery). Like making a better combustion system on rockets, helping build the fusion reactors they’re trying to make, using...
  13. mktsgm

    Medical How the love hormone Oxytocin works

    Oxytocin is called the love hormone. It regulates and influences one's emotion such that the person (with oxytocin) may fall in love. But there are some unanswered questions. Does the partner with whom one is falling in love, also should have oxytocin secreted? If there are many people in a...
  14. Wrichik Basu

    Love eggs? Maybe you should consider this

    The main problem has been (and will be) cholesterol. Previously, the standards said that some amount of dietary cholesterol was good for the heart. But a recent study tells a different story. The worse fact is: But don't banish eggs completely. Eat, but lower the quantity. Article: JAMA...
  15. Demystifier

    Is Catholicism the solution to resolving controversies and promoting morality?

    Yesterday I have seen the excellent documentary "The Swedish theory of love". (Yes, you can find the full documentary on YouTube, and no, it's not about sex!) Perhaps the most interesting part in the documentary is this graph. And guess which country is right in the middle? Croatia! If that is...
  16. curiousman

    Exploring the Physics of Love: A Curious Man's Journey

    Hi, Can love be explained by physics? I've been doing some research with no luck. I know there are a few books about however they treat the subject in a spiritual way with no science behind. Then, I've been reading some "theories" about sympathetic vibrations caused by love; oscillations which...
  17. jedishrfu

    News Amazon Turk woes: BOTS the software we love to hate?

    https://www.wired.com/story/amazon-mechanical-turk-bot-panic/
  18. FallenApple

    Respect or Love: Which Matters More in Relationships?

    If you had to choose between one, which one would you choose and why? Also, this question is not necessarily for romantic relationships, but also regarding friends and colleagues etc. So for example, being well liked vs being well respected.
  19. riley4190

    How can I make my friend love physics?

    I know the whole question may sound stupid, but my best friend has a physics exam very soon, but she hates physics and she simply can't study it although she's good at maths. She doesn't even want to hear that physics is good. I want to write a big text about how exciting physics is, I want to...
  20. jlmccart03

    Other GPA is low, but I love physics, what should I do?

    The title says it all. I am a sophomore with a flailing GPA. It’s currently at 2.2 since I keep getting C’s in literally everything. I have gone to professors, advisors, and other academic officials in the hope they would help. All I got was the same old same old. Study harder, read the book...
  21. Wrichik Basu

    Travel experiences you would love to share

    Who doesn't like to travel to unknown places, away from the hectic city life? Did you experience something great on such trips that is worth sharing? Perhaps Nature had opened up her beauty in front of you, or you have seen something majestic in people's lives that has made you think for a long...
  22. M

    Studying I hate maths but I love physics, What should I study?

    Hi, It's my last year at secondary scool and I don't know what to study I have to select the field now because I want to apply for a scolarship. Parents want me to study medicine and it's okay for me, but I want to study a thing that makes me a useful person . I want to study physics in order to...
  23. Evo

    Is Echeveria My New Favorite Hobby?

    I have a new hobbie https://upload.wikimedia.org/wiki pedia/commons/5/5a/Spiral_Aloe_from_above.JPG
  24. Thinkaholic

    I Can't Take it Anymore -- I love to learn, yet I don't like school

    Hello. I'm an 8th grader who loves physics and math, and I want to be a theoretical physicist and dabble in cosmology and string theory. I am very passionate, very curious, and I love to learn. However, there is one problem. School. Paradoxical, right? I love to learn, yet I don't like school...
  25. A

    Courses Want to do spacecraft propulsion R&D but love astrophysics

    I've always been fascinated with space and space travel and want to see humanity advance in that area. I've always thought the best way for me to contribute is to work in research and development for propulsion systems (which I'm interested in), however, my main passion in physics is...
  26. louisnach

    Computer science if you love math

    Hello everyone, I am currently hesitating, should i do a master in computer science or engineering? (i have currently a bachelor in elec eng which was very hard to pass because of the physics) I like computer science and like programming but i love math a lot too and even more than comp...
  27. Demystifier

    Insights How I Stopped Worrying and Learned to Love Orthodox Quantum Mechanics - Comments

    Demystifier submitted a new PF Insights post How I Stopped Worrying and Learned to Love Orthodox Quantum Mechanics Continue reading the Original PF Insights Post.
  28. M

    MHB Is Love Simply a Mathematical Equation?

    The only reason I don’t know more about love is because there just isn’t more to know. In fact, I’ve reduced love to a mathematical formula. "Let X be a non-singular complex projective manifold. Then every Hodge class on X is a linear combination with rational coefficients of the cohomology...
  29. Farang

    Don't you just love it when....

    ...you've been working on a problem for hours just to realize that you missed a minus sign in the beginning and that makes the problem solvable in minutes. &$@*&$%*#% Would you say that was a time well wasted or should that teach one pay more attention to details in the future?
  30. Sanborn Chase

    Medical Why do Squirrels Love Aluminum?

    Does anyone know why squirrels gnaw on aluminum?
  31. ibkev

    Algebra Math texts that make you fall in love all over again

    I often see textbook recommendations here that about rigour and depth of coverage. Serious books for serious people! This question is different. I'm looking textbooks that inspire a love for mathematics. And I want to come at it from two different angles: (1) is there a textbook that was so...
  32. A

    Is sexual attraction necessary for romantic love?

    From an evolutionary standpoint, humans evolved to have the ability and tendency to fall in romantic love because combination of DNA (via sex) served a huge advantage in propagation of genes, and because of the enormous time it takes to successfully raise an organism until it fully developed a...
  33. G

    Why do we become addicted to celebrities?

    Why don't we fall in love with an actress or actor?
  34. P

    Have you ever fallen in love with a celebrity?

    A famous singer, actress or in general a girl who is famous and impossible to be with or meet Same for girls: singer, actor and in general someone impossible to get How did you deal with that? I mean you know it's impossible
  35. G

    Why do love songs have such an impact on our emotions?

    Why do love songs sound the way they do? Even without knowing the lyrics, you can know if a song is a love song or a religious song or just neutral song.. what is in the tone that makes love song romantic? Perhaps the tone can affect some part of the brain or trigger emotional responses?
  36. A

    How to Overcome Disappointment in Love?

    In your opinion what is the best thing to do to overcome a disappointment in love ?
  37. B

    Do animals experience love or just a chemical reaction?

    Do animals also fall in love? But first.. what is the difference between "in love" and "love?
  38. DeathbyGreen

    Solid State No Love for Kittel: An Alternative Textbook for Solid State Physics?

    I wasn't sure if I should post this in general discussion or in solid state section, but am I the only one who finds the Kittel textbook horrible? It seems full of semi-empirical, basic math, and boring, surface level observations written as dryly as possible. I really like solid state physics...
  39. DiracPool

    Experience the Latest in Smartphone Technology: Samsung Galaxy S4

    I love my smartphone. I love my new one more than my old one, and I Ioved my old one a lot. My old one was an LG Optimus F6. It had a 245 pixel density. 540 x 960 4.5 inch screen. Snapdragon 400 chipset, dual core Krait, 1.2 G's. It even had an Adreno GPU. Unfortunately, it only have 4...
  40. Docscientist

    Should I do what I love ?

    I am being forced to do something that I hate for the next two years simply because THAT something can determine my future.Learning THAT something is like a back up plan in case I failed to achieve anything in doing something that I love. You can visualise it as being forced to ride your hated...
  41. davenn

    Engineers, Gotta love them #2

    where would the world be without tech like this ?? :wink: :smile:
  42. N

    HEY THERE

    Hi, my name is Noel, i am currently a final year student , in newcastle university majoring in offshore engineering! i love to play dota, going out to watch movies, listening to musics and love reading book. I hope to make many like minded friends through this forums and finally NICE TO MEET YOU!
  43. S

    I love physics but I suck at it

    I'm a Junior in high school trying to pick my undergrad program. I always thought I'd go into biology. I love it an I'm good at it. Then I took physics just to try it. I started looking up stuff online and, it's just so cool and amazing. Like I'm infatuated with it. I want to know all I can. But...
  44. K

    Slovak teen who would love to get into science

    So I am a 17 years old girl from Slovak Republic. Central Europe, or Eastern. I do not really know, classifications differ. Forgive me for my grammar and spelling (I use UK spelling because that is what I have learned in school.) I am one year away from "maturita", aka exams in my country that...
  45. T

    Exploring Love for Physics: How to Focus on One Area Despite Many Options

    I don't know how else to express it. Vacuum moduli spaces, supernovae, the hodge star formulation of Maxwell's equations, black holes, SU(N) gauge theories, QED, ARPES, superconductors. I fricking love it all so much and I want to learn it all but I feel like I have no time to learn anything...
  46. A

    Do I need to fall in love of everything?

    I'm a second year grad student within engineering physics and after this I am going to take a master in theoretical physics. My plan is to go even further with a PhD when I am done. The thing is, I really don't enjoy some parts of my education. I love the theoretical part of almost everything...
  47. DoweExist?

    Is Love planned? Need desperate answer...

    What happens when we fall in love? As a result of certain stimuli, the hypothalamus releases a powerful discharge of endorphins, but why exactly that woman or that man? Is there a release of odorless pheromones that correspond to a complimentary genetic signal? Or is it physical features that we...
  48. geoboom

    Would love some Linear Alg and Modern Phy advice :)

    Hi guys! Since I'm about to embark on modern physics and linear algebra next year, I've decided to join this community to garner new insights and expose myself to various questions to prepare myself for next year. To begin, I have a few questions for you guys to preempt my preparation. Take a...
  49. J

    I love biology and physics but I'm not sure what to study

    Hi, I love biology and want to go into research but I also love physics and want to become a physicist. In the UK you can only study one at degree level and there are no joint or double majors. So, I need some advice. Thanks
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