Finding it hard to understand your feelings towards people? Confusing your friendships for something more? This article will help you appreciate what platonic love is and achieve stronger friendships without the unnecessary confusion of feelings.
Platonic love is a chaste and strong type of love that is non-sexual. It is an intimate companionship or relationship, especially between two persons of the opposite sex, that is characterized by the absence of sexual involvement; a spiritual affection. The term amor platonicus was coined as early as the 15th century by the Florentine scholar Marsilio Ficino. Platonic love in this original sense of the term is examined in Plato's dialogue the Symposium, which has as its topic the subject of love or Eros generally. The English term dates back as far as Sir William Davenant's Platonic Lovers (1636). It is derived from the concept in Plato's Symposium of the love of the idea of good which lies at the root of all virtue and truth. Barbara Graziosi, professor of Classics at Durham University, described Platonic love as the "Christian apology" of Greek love.
Love has several different meanings in the English language, from something that gives a little pleasure to something one would die for. It can describe an intense feeling of affection, an emotion or an emotional state. In ordinary use, it usually refers to interpersonal love. Probably due to its emotional primacy, love is one of the most common themes in art.
Platonic love in its modern popular sense is an affectionate relationship into which the sexual element does not enter, especially in cases where one might easily assume otherwise. A simple example of platonic relationships is a deep, non-sexual friendship between two heterosexual people of the opposite sexes. At the same time, this interpretation is a misunderstanding of the nature of the Platonic ideal of love, which from its origin was that of a chaste but passionate love, based not on uninterest but virtuous restraint of sexual desire. Platonic love involves interpersonal relationship. Interpersonal relationships are social associations, connections, or affiliations between two or more people. They vary in differing levels of intimacy and sharing, implying the discovery or establishment of common ground, and may be centered around something(s) shared in common.
Understand what love itself is. Love is a deep emotion expressed through affection and creates and attachment or bond between people. Different types of love exist for different relationships. For example, a mother and daughter have familial love, partners have romantic love. The love between friends is platonic love.
Consider your thoughts about the person. Do you think of them romantically or erotically? Thoughts such as these suggest you might have a different love for this person. If your thoughts are innocent, then you most likely have a platonic love for them.
Do not mistake your love for something more. One of the most common confusions occurs when people mistake their affection towards their friends as something deeper. Whether consciously or subconsciously, it is easy to mistake feelings of love.
Understand how strong platonic love can be. It is perfectly normal for people to experience intense feelings for those they care about without the love being of a romantic nature. Very similar to that of actual love, platonic love creates a powerful attachment between people.
Think about what your idea of friendship is. Do you consider acquaintances as friends or do you need to have a profound knowledge of the person before you classify them as a friend? In order to identify the type of love, you must first have a comparison to what your norm for platonic love is.
Confusion of feelings can lead to unnecessary pain and loss. Think before you make any commitments as a result of your feelings.
Platonic relationships get deeper and better over time if both parties respect the boundaries.
Be careful about telling the other party if you feel like your feelings have changed. Give it time and figure out if you really do feel differently before you risk ruining your friendship.
Platonic love is a chaste and strong type of love that is non-sexual. It is an intimate companionship or relationship, especially between two persons of the opposite sex, that is characterized by the absence of sexual involvement; a spiritual affection. The term amor platonicus was coined as early as the 15th century by the Florentine scholar Marsilio Ficino. Platonic love in this original sense of the term is examined in Plato's dialogue the Symposium, which has as its topic the subject of love or Eros generally. The English term dates back as far as Sir William Davenant's Platonic Lovers (1636). It is derived from the concept in Plato's Symposium of the love of the idea of good which lies at the root of all virtue and truth. Barbara Graziosi, professor of Classics at Durham University, described Platonic love as the "Christian apology" of Greek love.
Love has several different meanings in the English language, from something that gives a little pleasure to something one would die for. It can describe an intense feeling of affection, an emotion or an emotional state. In ordinary use, it usually refers to interpersonal love. Probably due to its emotional primacy, love is one of the most common themes in art.
Platonic love in its modern popular sense is an affectionate relationship into which the sexual element does not enter, especially in cases where one might easily assume otherwise. A simple example of platonic relationships is a deep, non-sexual friendship between two heterosexual people of the opposite sexes. At the same time, this interpretation is a misunderstanding of the nature of the Platonic ideal of love, which from its origin was that of a chaste but passionate love, based not on uninterest but virtuous restraint of sexual desire. Platonic love involves interpersonal relationship. Interpersonal relationships are social associations, connections, or affiliations between two or more people. They vary in differing levels of intimacy and sharing, implying the discovery or establishment of common ground, and may be centered around something(s) shared in common.
Understand what love itself is. Love is a deep emotion expressed through affection and creates and attachment or bond between people. Different types of love exist for different relationships. For example, a mother and daughter have familial love, partners have romantic love. The love between friends is platonic love.
Consider your thoughts about the person. Do you think of them romantically or erotically? Thoughts such as these suggest you might have a different love for this person. If your thoughts are innocent, then you most likely have a platonic love for them.
Do not mistake your love for something more. One of the most common confusions occurs when people mistake their affection towards their friends as something deeper. Whether consciously or subconsciously, it is easy to mistake feelings of love.
Understand how strong platonic love can be. It is perfectly normal for people to experience intense feelings for those they care about without the love being of a romantic nature. Very similar to that of actual love, platonic love creates a powerful attachment between people.
Think about what your idea of friendship is. Do you consider acquaintances as friends or do you need to have a profound knowledge of the person before you classify them as a friend? In order to identify the type of love, you must first have a comparison to what your norm for platonic love is.
Confusion of feelings can lead to unnecessary pain and loss. Think before you make any commitments as a result of your feelings.
Platonic relationships get deeper and better over time if both parties respect the boundaries.
Be careful about telling the other party if you feel like your feelings have changed. Give it time and figure out if you really do feel differently before you risk ruining your friendship.
