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The nature of royal weddings as very public declarations of love can cause us to reflect on love and partnership – and on 29th April 2011 when Prince William and Kate Middleton tied the knot, the royal couple took a vow that declared a commitment to love and cherish ‘til death do us part’. But what is ‘love’? What is it that makes us fall in love with someone and can we put a meaning on it? We’ve all experienced love, whether it is a friend, partner, family member, or a pet – but these are all very different kinds of love. So how do we define love when it encompasses such a variety of emotions? Carolyn Price, senior lecturer in Philosophy, and Timothy Chappell, director of the Ethics Centre, at The Open University, discuss the nature of love, from love as a function, to ‘the Doppelganger problem’ – should we also love another person with the same traits and qualities as the person we already love? Finally, the notion of love as a duty within marriage is explored.
Track 2: What is love?
What are the reasons we love one person rather than another, and can love be unjustified?
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Tracks in this podcast:
| Track | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Can love be rational? | Carolyn Price and Tim Chappell look at rationality and love. Play now Can love be rational? |
| 2 | What is love? | What are the reasons we love one person rather than another, and can love be unjustified? Play now What is love? |
| 3 | The Doppelganger Problem | Applying 'The Doppelganger Problem' to the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. Play now The Doppelganger Problem |
| 4 | Love and relationships: a function or an illusion | Is love just an emotion, or is there more to it? Play now Love and relationships: a function or an illusion |
| 5 | Love as a duty | Can there be a duty to love, and how can you promise you will love your partner for the rest of your life? Play now Love as a duty |
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Ultimately, I think love is risky. It is important to understand that all human beings are flawed, and it is often a case of realising this and still choosing to stick together in a partnership and growing together which leads to the feeling of security in relationships or marriage. Especially with social media in this 21st century, we seem to have the illusion of 'unlimited options' which often leads to relationship breakdowns. Wouldn't you rather invest in the growth and happiness of one person who already holds the qualities you value - with flaws, of course - than search for this "already completed" person with no red flags, who most likely only exists in your mind due to societal conditioning via romantic movies, social media relationship exposure and poetry?