Abstract

The paper shows specifics and features of understanding of importance of love in society in the legacy of Plato and Aristotle. Explication of the role of love in society in Plato is revealed on the basis of the texts of his two dialogues «Symposium» and «Laws». In the «Symposium», through the speech of Eryximachus, it is emphasized that thanks to love, a complete unity is possible in society as a whole and between people. Love occupies a key place in society and its presence or deficiency leads to certain social phenomena (war, revolution, revival). Love cannot separate people both on a personal and social level. Destructive, destruction brings only hatred. Accordingly, every member of society who wants the society in which he lives to be prosperous and stable, should feel friendly to others, be sensitive and caring to those who need it. Аlso, in the «Laws» the ancient Greek thinker talks about how important it is to teach children — future citizens of the policy — who and how to love or hate. This is due to the fact that if the wrong way of understanding love among people develops, then this can lead to the destruction of society. After all, if love is inherent in justice, then it is not able to create disorder, to make destructive, to one degree or another to be a carrier of deviant behavior. Love is always where there is truth, where there is justice. And where there is a lie, a deception, the place of love no longer remains. She calmly and without resentment walks away from those people who have felt a sense of love, and does not knock again until the lie stops. It is proved that Αristotle is ambivalent about the importance of love for society. To some extent, he continues his predecessors Socrates and Plato, and emphasizes that the state is based on love and friendly relations. Love is not limited only to individual relationships and circumstances, it affects the entire social and cultural life of mankind. At the same time, he opposes them, because he notes the negative consequences for society and the state system of various manifestations of love deviations. Aristotle also emphasizes that social status is not important for close relationships. Intimacy, closeness to each other is higher than those or other social divisions, beliefs and disagreements. Thus, love overcomes social disunity, thereby creating a special community for which the main thing is the good of Оther.

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