The Reasons of Love by Harry G. Frankfurt

On this gloomy day I indulged myself in one's philosophy of love.

We often question if we are living the ‘right’ life. We try to find the purpose and meaning behind our desires. Author Harry G. Frankfurt states that the basis of a full life is to understand what one cares about. What we care about cannot always be explained rationally, but acceptance of those things gives us a sense of freedom. If we are not always searching for the evidence to back up why something is important to us we can more fully enjoy it.

In return we develop a confidence of self. We can live fully in who we are instead of trying to rationalize it. This develops a self-love. Self-love in this instance is not seen as arrogance or narcissism. In knowing who we are and what we care about we are able to fully love others. Love is desire for the good of the beloved, it is a personal interest, it means taking in the interests of the others as ones own and it is often beyond the constraints of the will. “Rationality and the capacity to love are the most powerfully emblematic and most highly prized features of human nature.”