What is love?

This position holds that love is, at bottom, pure emotion — the raw, unmistakable feeling that arises on meeting the right person. It frames love as a spontaneous sensation born of attraction, connection and admiration, one that emerges and recedes of its own accord rather than by choice.

This position holds that love is a verb — not a feeling but a relational action we choose and perform. It frames love as something enacted through concrete deeds, gifts and choices, an ongoing practice we engage in rather than a passive state we happen to fall into.

This position holds that love is a societal tool rather than a natural feeling — an artificial construct that, in one reading, oppresses women and reinforces patriarchy. It frames love variously as a commercial device, a coping mechanism, and an appraisal of another person's value.

This position holds that notions of love are culture-specific. It argues that different cultures define and experience love in their own distinct ways — from courtly love to traditions that separate love from sexual desire — so there is no single, universal idea of what love is.

This position holds that love is fundamentally biological. It argues that love can be reduced to chemicals and hormones — rooted in genetics, evolution and the drive to produce healthy offspring — a neurochemical bond and infatuation rather than anything mystical.

This position holds that what love is depends on the type of love in question. It argues there are many distinct kinds—often counted as seven—each meaning something different, spanning romantic love, deep emotional attachment, and even the idea that 'God is love.'