Though I think you can have both. You can love an object and appreciate the object for what it is, without an intellectual connection. The purchase of objects like houses, cars, clothing, paint colors, anything relative to aesthetics comes to mind.
Of course the dynamics of, in this case, romantic love may wane if the relationship is not balanced. If one where to use a mind-body-spirit criteria as a decision making model or method in choosing a mate, only loving just the person's body would not be fulfilling (in the long run).
Is it not just as valid or invalid to say: "You don't love a person because you love his mind; you only start to love his mind after you start to love his person". Why is love for the body somehow seen as trivial and the mind somehow seen as exalted?
(I am longing for a woman to say, I love you for your body, to hell with your mind, but that aside ;) )
Reply to Kaveski
This is an interesting new slant on the mind and body problem. Do we love a person for their mind or their body, and how do we separate the two? What I think is interesting here is how this connects to internet discussion, because we are able to connect on a mental level, but are unlikely to ever meet bodily. Most people here are anonymous and only a few have their photos on site.
I am not wishing to make light of your topic, but I do wonder how the role of body and mind lie in this spectrum. Is sexuality an aspect of body or mind? Where does eros and agape lie? Are they separate or interconnected? On what level do we meet as minds, or as bodies, with all kinds of sexual meanings, or other meanings of the idea of love?
You don't love a person because you love his body; you only start to love his body after you start to love his person.
I agree that you don’t love a person because you love their body - but I do think you can start to love a person after you start to love their body. Physical attraction is not the only path to love, but it is one way to start. Love is quite different to desire, however.
Comments (12)
Pardon the pun but I love your premise.
Though I think you can have both. You can love an object and appreciate the object for what it is, without an intellectual connection. The purchase of objects like houses, cars, clothing, paint colors, anything relative to aesthetics comes to mind.
Of course the dynamics of, in this case, romantic love may wane if the relationship is not balanced. If one where to use a mind-body-spirit criteria as a decision making model or method in choosing a mate, only loving just the person's body would not be fulfilling (in the long run).
But how do you know it is "love" and not just attraction, infatuation or something else?
The love I might have for someone can be dependent upon the love I have for her body. Romantic love and physical attraction are related.
(I am longing for a woman to say, I love you for your body, to hell with your mind, but that aside ;) )
Sounds like a reasonable longing to me. But would she say "to hell with your mind and your money", or just "to hell with your mind"?
This is an interesting new slant on the mind and body problem. Do we love a person for their mind or their body, and how do we separate the two? What I think is interesting here is how this connects to internet discussion, because we are able to connect on a mental level, but are unlikely to ever meet bodily. Most people here are anonymous and only a few have their photos on site.
I am not wishing to make light of your topic, but I do wonder how the role of body and mind lie in this spectrum. Is sexuality an aspect of body or mind? Where does eros and agape lie? Are they separate or interconnected? On what level do we meet as minds, or as bodies, with all kinds of sexual meanings, or other meanings of the idea of love?
I do not get it, mind does not equate money. I do not think any girl fancied me because of my lack of money...
So, what's new?
If that is the case, it must have been because of your mind. Or as the OP says, your person ....
I agree that you don’t love a person because you love their body - but I do think you can start to love a person after you start to love their body. Physical attraction is not the only path to love, but it is one way to start. Love is quite different to desire, however.