The integral concept of love (R. Sternberg, V. Solovyov, K. Wojtyla)

Abstract

This article explores the differences in the understanding of the integral, comprehensive perception of the human being, particularly the condition described as love and the forms thereof. In doing so, it considers two major philosophical concepts aspiring to integrity, which were formulated in differing cultural contexts: the concept of love proposed by Vladimir Solovyov, rooted in the tradition of the Orthodox Church, and the contemporary, personalistic concept of Karol Wojtyla (John Paul II), formulated in the context of Catholic culture in his works Love and Responsibility (1960), Man and Woman He Created Them: A Theology of the Body (1984). In order to facilitate a comprehensive dialogue between these ideas, a third one is also discussed, i.e. the most contemporary depiction of love, also aspiring to be a complete description thereof, rooted in the tradition of the empirical science of social psychology (R. Sternberg, B. Vojcishke). The conducted analysis leads to the conclusion that the psychological concept of love proposed by R. Sternberg and B. Vojcishke is merely quasi-integral, while the truly integral, personalistic concepts of the human being (and love) offered by Vladimir Solovyov and Karol Wojtyla reveal certain methodological and doctrinal differences that prove impossible to overcome. What they do share is a Christian attempt to provide a positive depiction of human sensuality and sex drive, which constitute the primary foundations for the existence of the person in relationship. This positive description of erotic attraction, which, however, must be controlled by reason and will, is still innovative in Christian thought. Therefore, at a time of departure from Christianity, we propose to intensify research in this field, so that the presented concepts are more attractive for philosophical thinking about love.