Philosophy of love

The roots of the classical philosophy of love go back to Plato's Symposium.

Aristotle by contrast placed more emphasis on philia (friendship, affection) than on eros (love);[8] and the relationship of friendship and love would continue to be played out into and through the Renaissance,[9] with Cicero for the Latins pointing out that "it is love (amor) from which the word 'friendship' (amicitia) is derived"[10] Meanwhile, Lucretius, building on the work of Epicurus, had both praised the role of Venus as "the guiding power of the universe", and criticized those who became "love-sick...life's best years squandered in sloth and debauchery".

What sets this love apart is how it involves the natural actions of spirituality, such as through religiously-guided generosity and compassion to all.

[15][16] Among his love-sick targets, Catullus, along with others like Héloïse, would find himself summoned in the 12C to a Love's Assize.

Stendhal's theory of crystallization implied an imaginative readiness for love, which only needed a single trigger for the object to be imbued with every fantasized perfection.

[31] The Dhammapada instructs "pluck out your self-love as you would pull off a faded lotus in autumn.

[31] Ren is a virtue of Confucianism meaning benevolent love that is central to their teachings, and focuses on different social relationships.

[34] In Book IV of The Analects of Confucius it says, "4.1 The Master said, to settle in ren is the fairest course.