Love really different from Lust?
Aristoteli raises an important question.
Is Love really different from Lust in any manner other than duration?
Lust is not limited to sexual desire. I think that the only people who declare a distinction are those who are forced to settle out of lack of options and the need for stability.
Is Love really different from Lust in any manner other than duration?
Lust is not limited to sexual desire. I think that the only people who declare a distinction are those who are forced to settle out of lack of options and the need for stability.
posted by Anonymous | 4:33 am
Where does he raise that question? I think you misunderstood him.
And you're wrong.
Lust *is* limited to sexual desire, or at least a very base desire. Of course, you can lust after things which are not sexual - personality, stature, etc. But lust is sexual.
It doesn't have any of the longings for understanding or development or oneness or etc. that come with love.
Definition arguments are stupid. You can run these rings time and time again but every argument is circular because everybody is defining their own terms in different ways.
Let's look at (your suggested site for definitions) comprehensive Cambridge Dictionary definitions:
lust was found in the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary at the entries listed below.
lust (SEX)
lust (WISH)
blood lust
lust after sb (SEXUAL)
lust after/for sth (WANT)And let me click on the one that bolsters my argument:
lust (SEX) [Show phonetics]
noun [U]
a very strong sexual desire:
I don't think it's love so much as lust.So as far as definitions go, Cambridge agrees with both of us. So stop being difficult.
It's always easy to say things like 'let's say lust means love because {insert long argument for defining lust as a temporary love}, then love is just prolonged lust'. But it's also circular, unconstructive nonsense.
As for your other comment re: love doesn't require mutual understanding - I didn't say this. I said that there is a longing for it when you love someone. The fact it may not necessarily be present, is why love is a cunt.
As I said earlier, I'm not going to get bogged down in the argument of 'say X = Y, therefore X = Y', but I will say this:
Whenever I've been in what I term lust, it's never been even a trillionth as deep, touching, fulfilling or soul-changing as when I've been in love.
Also; I think it's perfectly possible to fall in love for a night, or lust after someone for months.
For me, they're just not the same thing.
I touched on it in the paragraph which you decided not to quote. I'll probably post about it later, as writing in these comments is doing my head in.
I will try my best, Dr. Dre.
Of course love is different than lust, whatever the defination of lust is! The statement about people settle out of lack of options and the need for stability is completely wrong. Those reasons do not change the basis of love or lust. You could love someone and have lust for them or not. You could lust after someone with love or without love. It is perfect when love and lust both happen together but that does not change their separate entity.
You're absolutely right, and I'm actually ashamed that series of comments had to drag on so long.
To evaluate whether they are indeed the same thing, you have to look at it from both directions. I believe that love can definitely involve lust, which seems to be the argument that you're using. However, lusting after something/someone doesn't always involve love. Because there are conditions where love isn't involved in lust, it is not possible to say that they are the same thing.
This is just like one of those word game questions on standard exams:
"If all weebles are wobbles and some wobbles are wubbles, then are all wubbles weebles?
The way I perceive love is as an opinion, or as a predefined base for poetry, and a feeling commonly mistaken as infatuation. I'm telling you True love is impossible to be defined, not with a thousand, blogs or a million words, doesn't matter, each and every person has love defined from within their own heart. I'll say one more thing, love is certainly not lust, nor is it even close. Lust is like something you want, and love is something you love, simple as that. you either like, love, lust, or care for someone, or you just hate, or dislike them. look at the way a mother loves their children, is this the same way you would love your wife or husband, an non lust, platonic family love, No simply no.
love isn't defined by, lust, it's defined within your heart.
I think lust can be love. When you love somebody ...you love them with your heart ..you would do anything for them but u are also attracted to them.....lust is part of love ...sex is part of love ...when u love somebody you want to have them close to you ..you do anything for them ...and nothing seems too much but also you want to experience all kinds of sexual desires ..when that lust goes away ..when the attraction fades ... the love goes away too. Sex is part of love ....so if sex is just a physical desire if its only lust ...that mean lust is part of love also..there cant be lust with no love and no love without lust. People that are scared of love usually tend to say that lust has nothing to do with love ..i guess its a way of protecting themselves but lust is love. And people who have one night stands shouldnt use the word lust as a cover up for their actions.
i believe that lust is often associated with a strong desire for physicality, including sex, along with other desires. i agree that love and lust are associated. you can be in love without having sex, though the feeling that comes with sex, brings a couple closer, and this is inevitable. this connection that you have physicaly, drives your body with this sexual desire, and makes you feel good. this good feeling is made with another, and often transforms into a deeper connection with the person, as you are completely open with them, mentally and physically.
although lust is not love, there is an association, as as our sexual drive is fulfilled, it is difficult to prevent feelings from forming.
it is difficult for love to survive without lust, as the desire to be with another when in love, is not only in presence, but physicality.
you all make good points i do believe that lust makes the heart grow fonder. When ones lust is delivered, we experience good. So for this feeling to accompany other good feelings associated with love, a greater feeling is formed; a greater love.