6 words of love from the ancient Greeks to help describe feelings

6 words of love from the ancient Greeks to help describe feelings

Eros
So the Greeks called sexual attraction, passion, that very “chemistry” and love at first sight. They did not always perceive eros as something positive. It was believed that too strong attraction leads to destructive love, which completely takes possession of a person.

Philia
This word means tender relationships between people. The ancient Greeks valued philia above "low" eros. The term includes not only love itself.
To save philia, it is important to share your emotions and be ready to help another person. These feelings are more platonic than romantic or sexual. However, philia can develop into something else or mix with, for example, eros. Then we get a more familiar romantic love.

Agape
Selfless love for all people. It manifests itself to both relatives and strangers. Agape can be expressed in the form of selfless help, charity. Christians used the word to describe the love of God and his feeling for people.
Psychologist John Alan Lee also explained how agape manifests itself in romantic relationships: the partner wants to give more than receive. He cares about the other, is not jealous and does not demand much.

Pragma
Mature love that arises in a long-term relationship. Pragma is built on respect, compromise, patience and common goals.
The aforementioned John Allen Lee described pragmatic partners as people who want to be mutually beneficial. Everyone has certain requirements and wishes, and they expect that the partner can satisfy them. This does not mean that such lovers do not have a drop of romance. Rather, voluntary mutually beneficial relationships are for pragmatists a manifestation of romance.

Storge
The love that arises from relatives. Storge does not necessarily include philia - spiritual kinship. For example, you may experience storge towards a younger brother who usually pisses you off, or towards a father who has not excelled in raising children. We can say that sometimes it is love for loved ones from the category of "despite ...".
Storge is a feeling that makes us help the family in difficult times, even if we are not very close. This connection involves devotion, acceptance of responsibilities when loved ones need help or care.

Philautia
Self love. The Greeks divided this feeling into positive and negative. The first is self-esteem, self-respect, understanding of one's value. Philautia became negative when a person turned into a vain egoist.
Aristotle believed that a person needs a "healthy" philautia in order to love others. According to the philosopher, if a person does not love himself, he will consider others as a way to get pleasure or benefit that he cannot find in himself. And it's hard to call it love.