What is love?

 You Are Loved via Ruche

An old high school teacher of mine Michael Erickson posted on facebook about an assignment he is currently doing with his philosophy class on 'Love'. When given a safe, supportive and questioning space teens are so much more insightful than I think we give them credit for. His class struggled with some really interesting questions which I thought I would share with you.  It's always worth being thoughtful about life and love. Something to ponder.

How do you know when you are in love?

Is love a choice, a force, a compulsion, an obsession?

Why do we think of love primarily as something we feel rather than something we do? When do we learn how to act with love?

Can you love someone/something without them knowing? Is it love if there is no reciprocity?

What do we get out of loving someone who doesn’t love us back?

How can you tell when someone loves you? How much can they hurt you before you question their love for you?

Is love gendered? Do you feel love or show love differently based on your gender?

Why do we only have one word -love- for so many different manifestations/experiences/emotions?


Man, I had great high school teachers!