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The Reasons of Love

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( 639 ratings, 76 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Reasons of Love by Harry G. Frankfurt explores the nature and significance of love in our lives. Frankfurt examines how love shapes our identity and motivates our actions, distinguishing it from mere desire or obligation. He delves into the rational basis of love, arguing that it plays a crucial role in giving our lives meaning and purpose, without relying solely on traditional philosophical notions of reason and will.
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you are interested in exploring philosophical and psychological perspectives on love and the motivations that underpin our affections and commitments. This work delves into the connections between desire, value, and what it means to truly care for something or someone, offering insightful analysis for those who appreciate thoughtful examinations of human emotions.

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A clear, accessible exploration of how and why we love by prominent philosopher and bestselling author Harry FrankfurtIn The Reasons of Love, leading moral philosopher and bestselling author Harry Frankfurt argues that the key to a fulfilled life is to pursue wholeheartedly what one cares about, that love is the most authoritative form of carin

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

A clear, accessible exploration of how and why we love by prominent philosopher and bestselling author Harry Frankfurt.

In The Reasons of Love, leading moral philosopher and bestselling author Harry Frankfurt argues that the key to a fulfilled life is to pursue wholeheartedly what one cares about, that love is the most authoritative form of caring, and that the purest form of love is, in a complicated way, self-love.

Through caring, we infuse the world with meaning. Caring provides us with stable ambitions and concerns; it shapes the framework of aims and interests within which we lead our lives.

Frankfurt goes on to explain that the most important form of caring is love, a nonvoluntary, disinterested concern for the flourishing of what is loved. And he contends that the purest form of love is self-love. This sounds perverse, but self-loveβ€”as distinct from self-indulgenceβ€”is at heart a disinterested concern for whatever it is that the person loves. The most elementary form of self-love is nothing more than the desire of a person to love.

Insofar as this is true, self-love is simply a commitment to finding meaning in our lives.

Series: Princeton Classics

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  • The Reasons of Love
    A clear, accessible exploration of how and why we love by prominent philosopher and bestselling author Harry Frankfurt. In The Reasons of Love, leading moral philosopher and bestselling author Harry Frankfurt argues that the key to a fulfilled life is to pursue wholeheartedly what one cares about, that love is the most authoritative form of caring, and that the purest...
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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Reasons of Love by Harry G. Frankfurt is praised for its engaging and thought-provoking exploration of love's philosophical underpinnings. Reviewers commend its literary qualities, likening it to modernist architecture in its elegance and clarity. The book is noted for offering insights into universal issues with an agile and sensitive approach, appealing to those interested in love, practical reasoning, and the good life.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780691191478

Publisher: Princeton University Press

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 16 July 2019

Country: United States

Imprint: Princeton University Press

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 140.0mm

Height: 216.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 112

About the Author

Harry G. Frankfurt (19292023) was professor of philosophy emeritus at Princeton University. His books include the #1 New York Times bestseller On Bullshit, On Inequality, and Demons, Dreamers, and Madmen (all Princeton).

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