The Essence of Love: Exploring Ontology and Existence
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Chapter 1: Understanding Love
What is love? Some may argue that it is nothing more than gratitude. As Rumi once expressed, true love emerges from a profound realization of its existence as a primary cosmic truth. Aldous Huxley articulated a similar sentiment, noting that love is a fundamental reality that transcends material existence.
In contemporary society, love is often viewed through a lens of materialism, where it is seen as a mere byproduct of evolutionary processes and social constructs. This perspective diminishes love's significance, reducing it to biological urges and survival instincts, accompanied by a thin layer of fabricated meaning that we impose to find greater significance in our lives.
This viewpoint overlooks a common theme found in various theistic traditions, where love is intricately linked to existence itself. The biblical assertion that "God is Love" is so ingrained in our consciousness that we often fail to appreciate the profound implications of such a declaration. Similarly, in the Hindu Chandogya Upanishad, the concept of the atman, or soul, is equated with Brahman, the ultimate reality that embodies all love.
Even individuals who reject religious beliefs hint at this connection. For instance, Sam Harris, a prominent atheist, recounted his experience with psilocybin, noting that words fall short when trying to describe the vastness of love: "What do we call the experience of having that ocean of feeling invade you, filling every empty space in your mind?" This echoes Dante's reflections on divine love, where he asserts that love is the driving force of the cosmos.
Love, for Dante, is not just a feeling but the essence of existence itself. It is the first cause, the central point around which everything revolves.
What do we mean by ontology?
In today's world, there is a prevalent belief that science will eventually explain all phenomena. However, scientific theories inherently assume the existence of reality, raising the question: "Why is there something rather than nothing?" This inquiry probes the very foundation of existence and challenges us to consider why reality persists. A causal explanation alone does not provide justification for the existence of anything at any moment.
Being is not merely a concept but is also intelligible and relational. We find ourselves in a dynamic relationship with reality, aware of it as an "other," both surrounding and within us. As Heidegger suggests, we are "thrown" into this reality, awakening to awareness. Being is not a passive backdrop; it is consciousness itself.
Love and Morality
We navigate a paradoxical moral landscape today. On one hand, there is a strong belief in individualism and the right to define one's own truth. Yet, at the same time, there is a collective moral outrage directed at perceived failings in society, implying an external moral standard to which others ought to be held accountable.
This contradiction reveals a peculiar kind of exceptionalism rooted in individualism. While morality exists and we expect others to adhere to it, we often position ourselves as the ultimate judge. In this context, individualism elevates the self to a divine status.
Ironically, we often lack introspection. Gratitude, for instance, is frequently discussed as a tool for enhancing well-being, yet the question remains: to whom are we grateful? How can we attain a level of self-awareness where gratitude becomes meaningful?
This paradox reflects a deeper truth: consciousness itself embodies gratitude. The practice of mindfulness, which involves merely observing our experiences, reveals that consciousness possesses an intrinsic quality of well-being. As Sam Harris remarked, the awareness of sadness does not equate to being truly sad, nor does the awareness of joy negate the experience of sadness. This ability to witness our emotions can lead to an expansive sense of self-transcending love and happiness.
These reflections are remarkable, particularly given Harris's lack of engagement with the reasons behind this intrinsic quality of love and happiness. After all, love and joy do not serve evolutionary purposes in the same way that power and aggression do. Yet, they persist and flourish in our consciousness.
This contemplation encourages us to reassess our epistemological frameworks. Perhaps we should prioritize understanding based on the wisdom of our hearts rather than reducing existence to mere mechanistic components. The notion of love as the force that moves the sun and other stars may be closer to our reality than we realize.
Chapter 2: The Ontology of Love
In exploring the essence of love, we can gain insight from various perspectives.
The first video titled "The Ontology of Love - Panel Discussion" delves into the philosophical implications of love, examining its role in our understanding of existence.
The second video, "Plato and the Ontology of Love (w/D.C. Schindler)," offers a discourse on how Platonic thought intersects with contemporary understandings of love and being.