Love is a combination of sexual attraction + strong bursts of oxytocin. Both are very powerful forces and create of quagmire of intense feelings.
So its not an artificial concept. The word "love" is just the manifestation of those feelings. I guarantee you it existed before a word/term was made for it though.
Our current concept of love was created at the end of the 11th, and throughout the 12th centuries, when the poets of southern France invented 'l'amour courtois' (courtly love), love emerged as an essential theme in the relationships between men and women. That . “Courtly love” was a brand new, even revolutionary idea, that was opposed to marriage and its sacrament.
The modern form of Marriage was conceived
in ancient Greece, the consent of marriage was given by the father of the bride, who wasn't allowed an opinion of her own. It was based on the interest the union of his daughter with a rich and prestigious or at least worthy family, would bring.
Later on, in the middle Ages, the Catholic Church instituted the “sacrament of marriage”. The blessing given to the spouses was supposed to transmute “physical sex act” into a more “spiritual one”.
Essentially all artificially made up, for social, political, economic, cultural reasons...
The current concept of women shaving their pussies smooth was created at the end of the 20th century and has perpetuated during the 21st century, much to the delight of cunnilingus enthusiasts who prefer not to pick pubes out of their teeth following a DATY session.
I can believe that the normalization or expectation of romantic love is socially constructed. However, I wouldn't say the feeling itself is. I'm sure that there's been times before the high middle ages when people "fell in love" but that the people around them simply thought of these individuals as obsessive and lustful. A Roman senator sometime around the era of Julius Caesar was fired from his job after he was seen kissing his wife in public. The idea behind this was essentially that a man who is "in love" with his wife was unfit to be in a position of power as they thought being obsessed with your wife was the equivalent of losing control over her.
It appears by the Shakespearean era, love had become a very normal part of social relationships however. The enlightenment era of the 18th century might have caused some people to look at it again with more of a rationalist perspective but I think that would've turned around again during the Romanticism of the 19th century.
I'd actually argue we are in the midst of a "cultural de-emphasis" of love at this current moment. Lots of people these days are advocating that we should be putting work and career above love and marriage, and others are claiming that love and marriage is socially restrictive. I do not see these changes as being good in the long run for people's quality of life. I think it is likely a major factor in what is causing the current sexual recession.
Sexual recession, as most economic recessions, mostly impact the lower economic class (the 99%). The 1% of any society at any time are not impacted.
“We have courtesans for the sake of pleasure," says Demosthenes, "concubines for the daily health of our bodies, and wives to bear us lawful offspring and be the faithful guardians of our homes"
In this one startling sentence is the Greek view of woman in the classic age. And in all times for those who can afford it...
“We have high end escorts for the sake of pleasure. Mistresses/Sugar Babies for the daily needs of our bodies. Wives to bear us lawful offspring. Realistic Sex Dolls/Gynoids/Fembot for kicks-and-giggles” - Demosthenes today as part of the 1%
Pretty sure these concepts discussed here are from the western world. And only applied to those of higher human authority. I can guesstimate that love existed everywhere else in the world especially amongst the lower caste system
I am pretty sure the intense human pair bond (some call it love) evolved so that men who were out hunting could trust that their mates back home were not having sex with other men, and could trust their children were really their children.
Believing in “Love” (and religion): The practice of training your mind to ignore evidence, logic, and reason, while being able to believe in fairy tales based on faith alone... and being proud of it, rather than ashamed.
Love is a combination of sexual attraction + strong bursts of oxytocin. Both are very powerful forces and create of quagmire of intense feelings.
So its not an artificial concept. The word "love" is just the manifestation of those feelings. I guarantee you it existed before a word/term was made for it though.
I can believe that the normalization or expectation of romantic love is socially constructed. However, I wouldn't say the feeling itself is. I'm sure that there's been times before the high middle ages when people "fell in love" but that the people around them simply thought of these individuals as obsessive and lustful. A Roman senator sometime around the era of Julius Caesar was fired from his job after he was seen kissing his wife in public. The idea behind this was essentially that a man who is "in love" with his wife was unfit to be in a position of power as they thought being obsessed with your wife was the equivalent of losing control over her.
It appears by the Shakespearean era, love had become a very normal part of social relationships however. The enlightenment era of the 18th century might have caused some people to look at it again with more of a rationalist perspective but I think that would've turned around again during the Romanticism of the 19th century.
I'd actually argue we are in the midst of a "cultural de-emphasis" of love at this current moment. Lots of people these days are advocating that we should be putting work and career above love and marriage, and others are claiming that love and marriage is socially restrictive. I do not see these changes as being good in the long run for people's quality of life. I think it is likely a major factor in what is causing the current sexual recession.
Oh, I don't know, CJKent. Maybe I'm fooling myself, but with 40 years of faithful, fun, and working together marriage, fondling and fornicating through 60% of my life, I'm pretty sure I'm loved.
And I "need" it enough to put up with a cat I don't particularly like.
I would have to say I respectfully disagree with your premise.
Gsteph-ape, also there are recorded instances of cat-ape love 💕 it is mostly one sided. As long as you provide good food and clean the cat’s sandbox he or she loves you.
As soon as there is an interruption in sandbox cleaning your cat friend will start plotting his or her revenge against all hairless apes.
Love is real in my world and it's something I personally want and need. Same goes for the people that I love and love me back. I don't understand a world without it and I feel sorry for those that think it doesn't exist. They are missing out on something wonderful.
Love doesn't cause one to no longer attracted to others. Sex and love can co-exist and are not mutually exclusive, although it is also possible to have neither or one or the other. People who do not deserve to be loved often expound upon how love doesn't exist and it is nothing more than pblum for their butt hurt feelings. On Friday, in 18" of new snow, my wife simply killed it in the double diamond bumps and trees. We skied them all day with essentially young males and a few females between 10 and 30. She had her best ski day ever and is still hyped up and glowing today. My week has sucked so far, but I have never been happier, because I love her and her joy wiped out all the I hate work feelings.
28 comments
So its not an artificial concept. The word "love" is just the manifestation of those feelings. I guarantee you it existed before a word/term was made for it though.
Our current concept of love was created at the end of the 11th, and throughout the 12th centuries, when the poets of southern France invented 'l'amour courtois' (courtly love), love emerged as an essential theme in the relationships between men and women. That . “Courtly love” was a brand new, even revolutionary idea, that was opposed to marriage and its sacrament.
The modern form of Marriage was conceived
in ancient Greece, the consent of marriage was given by the father of the bride, who wasn't allowed an opinion of her own. It was based on the interest the union of his daughter with a rich and prestigious or at least worthy family, would bring.
Later on, in the middle Ages, the Catholic Church instituted the “sacrament of marriage”. The blessing given to the spouses was supposed to transmute “physical sex act” into a more “spiritual one”.
Essentially all artificially made up, for social, political, economic, cultural reasons...
I can believe that the normalization or expectation of romantic love is socially constructed. However, I wouldn't say the feeling itself is. I'm sure that there's been times before the high middle ages when people "fell in love" but that the people around them simply thought of these individuals as obsessive and lustful. A Roman senator sometime around the era of Julius Caesar was fired from his job after he was seen kissing his wife in public. The idea behind this was essentially that a man who is "in love" with his wife was unfit to be in a position of power as they thought being obsessed with your wife was the equivalent of losing control over her.
It appears by the Shakespearean era, love had become a very normal part of social relationships however. The enlightenment era of the 18th century might have caused some people to look at it again with more of a rationalist perspective but I think that would've turned around again during the Romanticism of the 19th century.
I'd actually argue we are in the midst of a "cultural de-emphasis" of love at this current moment. Lots of people these days are advocating that we should be putting work and career above love and marriage, and others are claiming that love and marriage is socially restrictive. I do not see these changes as being good in the long run for people's quality of life. I think it is likely a major factor in what is causing the current sexual recession.
Sexual recession, as most economic recessions, mostly impact the lower economic class (the 99%). The 1% of any society at any time are not impacted.
“We have courtesans for the sake of pleasure," says Demosthenes, "concubines for the daily health of our bodies, and wives to bear us lawful offspring and be the faithful guardians of our homes"
In this one startling sentence is the Greek view of woman in the classic age. And in all times for those who can afford it...
“We have high end escorts for the sake of pleasure. Mistresses/Sugar Babies for the daily needs of our bodies. Wives to bear us lawful offspring. Realistic Sex Dolls/Gynoids/Fembot for kicks-and-giggles” - Demosthenes today as part of the 1%
I am pretty sure the intense human pair bond (some call it love) evolved so that men who were out hunting could trust that their mates back home were not having sex with other men, and could trust their children were really their children.
Believing in “Love” (and religion): The practice of training your mind to ignore evidence, logic, and reason, while being able to believe in fairy tales based on faith alone... and being proud of it, rather than ashamed.
So its not an artificial concept. The word "love" is just the manifestation of those feelings. I guarantee you it existed before a word/term was made for it though.
I can believe that the normalization or expectation of romantic love is socially constructed. However, I wouldn't say the feeling itself is. I'm sure that there's been times before the high middle ages when people "fell in love" but that the people around them simply thought of these individuals as obsessive and lustful. A Roman senator sometime around the era of Julius Caesar was fired from his job after he was seen kissing his wife in public. The idea behind this was essentially that a man who is "in love" with his wife was unfit to be in a position of power as they thought being obsessed with your wife was the equivalent of losing control over her.
It appears by the Shakespearean era, love had become a very normal part of social relationships however. The enlightenment era of the 18th century might have caused some people to look at it again with more of a rationalist perspective but I think that would've turned around again during the Romanticism of the 19th century.
I'd actually argue we are in the midst of a "cultural de-emphasis" of love at this current moment. Lots of people these days are advocating that we should be putting work and career above love and marriage, and others are claiming that love and marriage is socially restrictive. I do not see these changes as being good in the long run for people's quality of life. I think it is likely a major factor in what is causing the current sexual recession.
And I "need" it enough to put up with a cat I don't particularly like.
I would have to say I respectfully disagree with your premise.
As soon as there is an interruption in sandbox cleaning your cat friend will start plotting his or her revenge against all hairless apes.
Squawk!
The organization I am building will remedy this, make love safe again.
As it is today, love is a factor in a large portion of violent crime and homicide.
SJG
^What!?
In the US, most of the time if a woman is killed or brutalized, LOVE will be part of the scenario.
SJG
You are not fooling yourself, you have a good pair bonding experience, you can call it love if you want.
Every red blooded heterosexual American male would like to have sex with more than one woman, some can and some never will.
Fact: Observations about the world around us.
Hypothesis: A proposed explanation for a phenomenon made as a starting point for further investigation.
It is an historic Fact.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/037571…
SJG
crosby stills nash young almost cut my hair CSNY 1974
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVsbqVJL…