To describe this multifaceted and multidimensional phenomenon, the ancient Greeks used no less than ten expressions, each of them highlighting a different aspect. English, with \u2018love\u2019 and \u2018cherish\u2019 as the main options, remains far behind Greek diversity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Without a doubt, the three most popular Greek terms are: eros, agape<\/em>, and philia<\/em>. Nowadays we often arrange them in a judging hierarchy: eros – <\/em>the most primitive form of love, full of passion but deprived of reason; philia<\/em> – friendship, free from excessive emotions and hence more mature; and finally agape<\/em> – perfect love, completely altruistic and focused on sacrifice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the ancient Greeks perceived all the types of love as realities supplementing one another, not as contradictions. They valued harmony, believing that it provides human beings with a suitable environment to develop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With this in mind, let\u2019s have a closer look at five types of love which are like five fingers of the hand – <\/em>each of them necessary and contributing to the whole.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The thumb is visually the digit closest to the body. Its mobility allows all primates in general and humans in particular to perform complex actions and use tools. This is a\u00a0good metaphor of filautia – <\/em>the love and friendship<\/a> extended to oneself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many of us harbor false modesty, negating our own achievements in the name of misunderstood humility. This stems from equating self-love with selfishness or narcissism – <\/em>but filautia<\/em> is neither. Instead, it assumes discerning the truth about oneself, appreciating one\u2019s skills, talents, and achievements, and accepting oneself with all the virtues and vices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the other hand, love for oneself includes progress, and that entails setting demands. Only a comprehensive approach can make way for a thorough change in the physical, personal, professional and relational sphere of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thus defined self-love is the foundation for the golden rule of ethics: treat others as you would like to be treated (also formulated as a negation: do not treat others in ways that you would not like to be treated). Such love is the basis for developing the other four types.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis is the Eros of the Heavenly Goddess, and heavenly himself, and of great worth both to city and to private citizens, compelling the lover to be much concerned for his own virtue, and the beloved too,\u201d says Phaedrus in Plato\u2019s \u201cSymposium\u201d when trying to describe eros<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nFilautia<\/em> – Close Like the Thumb<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Eros<\/em>\u2014The Finger That Points at Desire<\/h2>\n\n\n\n