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Single Idea 9236

[filed under theme 22. Metaethics / B. Value / 2. Values / g. Love ]

Full Idea

It is not among the defining features of love that it must be hot rather than cool, ..and nor is it essential that a person like what he loves.

Gist of Idea

Love can be cool, and it may not involve liking its object

Source

Harry G. Frankfurt (The Reasons of Love [2005], 2.4)

Book Ref

Frankfurt,Harry G.: 'The Reasons of Love' [Princeton 2006], p.42

A Reaction

An interesting pair of observations. The greatness of love would probably be measured by length, or by sacrifice. Extreme heat makes us a little suspicious. It would be hard to love something that was actually disliked.

Related Idea

Idea 21425 We can love without respect, and show respect without love [Kant]

The 23 ideas from Harry G. Frankfurt

20015 Freedom of action needs the agent to identify with their reason for acting [Frankfurt, by Wilson/Schpall]
9264 Persons are distinguished by a capacity for second-order desires [Frankfurt]
9265 The will is the effective desire which actually leads to an action [Frankfurt]
9266 A person essentially has second-order volitions, and not just second-order desires [Frankfurt]
9270 A 'wanton' is not a person, because they lack second-order volitions [Frankfurt]
9267 Free will is the capacity to choose what sort of will you have [Frankfurt]
9269 A person may be morally responsible without free will [Frankfurt]
9233 Our criteria for evaluating how to live offer an answer to the problem [Frankfurt]
9232 It is by caring about things that we infuse the world with importance [Frankfurt]
9234 If you don't care about at least one thing, you can't find reasons to care about anything [Frankfurt]
9227 We might not choose a very moral life, if the character or constitution was deficient [Frankfurt]
9228 Ranking order of desires reveals nothing, because none of them may be considered important [Frankfurt]
9229 What is worthwhile for its own sake alone may be worth very little [Frankfurt]
9230 People want to fulfill their desires, but also for their desires to be sustained [Frankfurt]
9231 Freedom needs autonomy (rather than causal independence) - embracing our own desires and choices [Frankfurt]
9240 Love creates a necessity concerning what to care about [Frankfurt]
9241 Loving oneself is not a failing, but is essential to a successful life [Frankfurt]
9235 Rather than loving things because we value them, I think we value things because we love them [Frankfurt]
9236 Love can be cool, and it may not involve liking its object [Frankfurt]
9237 The paradigm case of pure love is not romantic, but that between parents and infants [Frankfurt]
9238 Morality isn't based on reason; moral indignation is quite unlike disapproval of irrationality [Frankfurt]
9239 I value my children for their sake, but I also value my love for them for its own sake [Frankfurt]
9300 Boredom is serious, not just uncomfortable; it threatens our psychic survival [Frankfurt]