Encyclopedia of Opinion
Question
What is love?
Position‹4 of 6›

Notions of love are Culture-specific

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.

Supporting arguments · 7

  1. Courtly love
    An understanding of love arising from the European Middle Ages, focussing on the woo-ing of women.
  2. Love is separate from sexual desire
    In some cultures, love is considered a totally separate phenomena to sexual desire, to the point that love may be marred by sex.
  3. Love is in silence
    In some Native American cultures, an indicator of authentic love is the ability to sit in silence.
  4. Love is secondary to pragmatism
    In cultures that practice polygamy or arranged marriage, pragmatism is considered the most important, with 'love' potentially following later.
  5. Love is counter-revolutionary
    In Communist China in the 20th century, the total “renunciation of the heart” was expected.
  6. Love is magic
    Magic has been a fundamental part of love in many cultures over time.
  7. Insufficiency
    According to the Spanish dictionary, love is an intense feeling of the human being who, starting from his or her own insufficiency, needs and seeks the encounter and union with another being.