Chapter 9: Love as a Moral and Ethical Force
Abstract : Love is increasingly understood not merely as a fleeting, intense emotion, but as a robust moral and ethical force— a deliberate, active commitment to the well-being of others . It serves as a foundational principle for ethical behavior, transforming how individuals interact with the world by grounding actions in empathy, care, and responsibility rather than just abstract rules. Love as a Moral Duty (Agape) Active Choice vs. Emotion: While love can be a spontaneous feeling, its moral power lies in its volitional nature. It is a conscious commitment to act lovingly, even when the emotion is absent. Christian and Philosophical Foundations: Often articulated as Agape (unconditional love) or Caritas (charity), this perspective views love as a command to seek the good of others, including enemies. Kantian "Practical Love": Immanuel Kant distinguished between "pathological love" (inclination) and "practical love" (duty). ...