Love and the Value of Living

Sunstone said:

Interesting. But why the modification?

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Well because to me, it seems that what makes life special is our capacity for various experiences and perspectives.

That this capacity allows us to discover, learn, grow and live dynamically and reactively to an equally dynamic world. Choices matter, and through which we can derive real meaning in our lives.

That life isnt so much about the end goal as it is about the journey. Love auto-handed to you on a plate is not the same in terms of meaning as finding it youself.

It also helps cover the countless people who dont have love in their life, perhaps lost in the past or never found, yet its their capacity for love in their hearts that provides hope and meaning for their lives, wherever they are.

LuisDantas said:

In that case, I am more than willing to say that you are bluffing and your claim is untrustworthy.

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Call me whatever you want, you can say it is untrustworthy. But you can't say I was bluffing because I was not.

It is simply not possible for you to know such a thing.

Sunstone said:

While I was passing a table in a coffee shop, I heard someone say, "Life without love is not worth living." I didn't catch more than that. But do you think they might have had a point? Why or why not?

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I suspect that this person's idea of "love" in this context was far too limited to make such a blanket statement about the entire human race. Just a hunch.

Sunstone said:

While I was passing a table in a coffee shop, I heard someone say, "Life without love is not worth living." I didn't catch more than that. But do you think they might have had a point? Why or why not?

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There really are unloved people out there, and I feel bad for them.

However, such people should LOVE THEMSELVES first, and then turn that LOVE into helping others, and they will never feel that sense of - no love - again.


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Sunstone said:

While I was passing a table in a coffee shop, I heard someone say, "Life without love is not worth living." I didn't catch more than that. But do you think they might have had a point? Why or why not?

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You can always find a reason to make life worth living. Love is a good reason but not the only reason.

Sunstone said:

While I was passing a table in a coffee shop, I heard someone say, "Life without love is not worth living." I didn't catch more than that. But do you think they might have had a point? Why or why not?

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Honestly, that is a totally arrogant statement. And logically self defeating.

If a life is not worth living, that means that being dead is preferable than being alive. In other words, it is like saying that if Mr. X is uncapable of love, then he would be better off by being dead. Which is frankly ridiculous (and unloving).

It also assumes that love is the sine-qua-non that can give meaning to life. Which is totally arbitrary and unsubstantiated.

I can imagine a person finding meaning in hating everybody. Or being indifferent towards everybody and just interested in pursuing other things.

Who can say that he would be better dead? Maybe we can think it, but this is just our parochial point of view that has nothing to do with what he really thinks about it.

Ciao

- viole

I'm going to speculate a bit and say that this person was not talking about love just in the the romantic sense of the word.
Yes, I do believe that love in all it's many different forms makes life worth living.
I love music. If I didn't have access to it I could keep living but life wouldn't have the same taste. I love my family and friends. I love reading and feeling the sun on my skin and running, etc, etc, etc... The people and things I love give my life a purpose. Without them I would feel empty.