Can Love Be Moral Practice
Love is an experience that can create feelings of warmth, comfort, trust, loyalty, appreciation, joy, passion, excitement, commitment, and selflessness. It can also bring pain, confusion, frustration, disappointment, betrayal, guilt, shame, and heartbreak. These emotions are often associated with one's personal relationships with others.
There is no single definition of what love truly means. Some people think it is about finding someone who makes them feel good physically or mentally, while others believe it requires more than just physical attraction. This article will explore whether love itself can be a moral practice of mutual becoming rather than static devotion.
Mutual Growth vs. Static Devotion
Mutual growth suggests that both partners in a relationship should work towards becoming better individuals together. They support each other emotionally, intellectually, spiritually, and financially. They share interests, hobbies, and goals, and learn to appreciate their differences. On the other hand, static devotion implies a romantic ideal that involves staying devoted to your partner regardless of how they treat you. You focus on making them happy without considering your own needs. While this type of love may seem noble, it can lead to codependency, manipulation, and abuse.
Morality and Mutuality
Some might argue that morality has nothing to do with love because it is not a choice but a feeling. Others believe that being moral means acting for the benefit of others and not yourself. If we apply this perspective to our relationships, it would mean putting the needs of our partner above our own desires and priorities. We would seek to make them feel safe, supported, valued, and loved. We would avoid hurting them intentionally or unintentionally through words or actions. Love that promotes growth and well-being for both partners could be considered a moral practice.
Mutuality and Moral Practice
When two people grow together, they experience personal development and evolve as individuals. This process requires patience, understanding, empathy, compassion, trust, communication, honesty, and respect. These are all qualities associated with morality. By practicing mutuality within a relationship, couples can create a healthier dynamic based on openness and vulnerability. They become more self-aware and reflective, leading to greater satisfaction in life.
While love cannot always be defined by moral principles, practicing mutual growth and devotion can help us improve ourselves and our relationships. It allows us to develop empathy, kindness, and accountability towards one another. When two people learn to support each other's individual journeys and work towards common goals, they strengthen their bond and build something meaningful.
Can love itself be a moral practice of mutual becoming rather than static devotion?
The idea that love can be a moral practice of mutual becoming is a valid one, but it should not replace the notion of devotion as a core element of what we understand as "love". Love is more than just an emotion, but also a choice to care for another individual, which involves both selflessness and commitment.