The Art of Love - A Philosophy Bedside Book

Author: Erich Fromm
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features: Regarding the overall structure of the book, the author divides it into three parts. First, he explains the question of whether love is an art, dividing the learning process of art into two parts: theory and practice. In the theoretical aspect of love, the author discusses love from the perspective of the key to human survival and distinguishes and explores various forms of love in life, intending to show that beneath the forms, the essence of love is the same; it includes care, responsibility, respect, and understanding. As for practice, love is no different from general art—it must be self-disciplined, focused, patient, and able to recognize the importance of love to oneself. In this book, the author still cannot help but criticize modern Western society, pointing out the disintegration of love in Western society, which can be understood through the social structure of capitalism. Therefore, Fromm is a scholar who highly cares about modern society, and his series of works reflect his emphasis and stress on freedom and love—these conditions of human survival. Fromm believes that people should no longer be alienated from their own strength and should no longer experience their strength through the worship of new idols—such as the state, power, and consumption. Only in such a society, as Marx said, when the comprehensive development of the individual becomes the condition for the comprehensive development of everyone, will love become an important social attitude. The author of this book, Fromm, does not use obscure psychological terms because this book is written for the general public. It reminds everyone of the necessity of love for human survival. Here, love is not just narrow-minded romantic love, nor can it be acquired through practice to improve skills. Love is the manifestation of the whole personality, and to develop the ability to love, one must strive to develop one's own personality and move toward creative goals. Love is not about possession and being possessed; it is an of whether a person has a mature personality. Love is never about two people becoming one world; love is about two people together appreciating this world.