Does love exist?

Question

I know in the media and in school, etc, people like to promote the ideal of love and such. But in my adult years, I've learnt that humans are nothing more than the 3rd type of chimpanzee and everything we do is based on baser, animalistic instinct for survival and self-protection.

Which one is it? Is love a real thing, or are we just apes like chimps? Because I'm not so sure it can be both since chimps don't have the capacity for empathy

Disregard Males · Accepted Answer

we are the third ape, but apes are extremely social and "love" as a biochemical thing or whatever the hell it is, is important for our mental health.

Mark · Answer

Chimps are our cousins....We share very little with them despite our genetic similarity.

"Love" is used to describe a wide variety of emotional states.   There is the reproduction-driven "falling in love", the heady, biochemical state most all humans experience at some time or another.... One that often overpowers rational thinking and leads us into relationships with people with whom we are incompatible...Save physically.

But it also describes the long-term pair-bonding that occurs after that initial stage dissipates.   Many humans have successful, close relationships that last for many years, or even a lifetime.

There are also the yet-different types of love associated with siblings, family, close friendships, and even more distant things like patriotism (love of country) and love of things like celebrities and sports teams.
These all bring about positive emotional states in human beings.    
They are an essential part of the human condition.

Anonymous · Answer

No, not really.

Trending News

Does love exist?

3 Answers