Love is one of the most basic and fundamental needs of human beings.
In fact, everybody has an intense desire to be nurtured and loved.
Through love, we do not only find joy, but also courage, hope, purpose, and a reason for living.
But what does it really mean to love and be loved? Is the type love you feel for your parents, your romantic partner, your friends, and your siblings the same?
According to Greek, it is not.
Indeed, this language has 7 distinct words describing very different kinds of love.
Let’s explore them together.
1. Eros
Eros, named after the Greek God of fertility, is the type of love that most people associate with romantic love.
It is a very sexual and passionate kind of love that is all about lust and pleasure.
Eros is driven by the appreciation for one’s physical appearance and a strong sexual longing, and it is often characterized by obsession, especially in the initial stages of courtship.
However, since Eros is primarily founded on physicality, it is not enough to build a long-term commited relationship.
2. Philia
Philia is a kind, authentic, and encouraging type of love that arises from a deep mutual understanding.
This kind of love bonds meaningful friendships (both between platonic friends and/or romantic partners) and it is based on loyalty, trust, and goodwill.
When two individuals feel philia towards each other, they deeply value each other for who they are and want the absolute best for one another.
3. Ludus
Ludus is a type of love that is based on having fun, whatever that means to you.
It often includes activities such as dancing, singing, and teasing.
This kind of love is all about flirtation, playfulness, and infatuation, and it does not involve any commitment or attachment (as opposed to philia).
It’s casual, exciting, and even sexual.
4. Storge
Storge is a protective and kinship-based love that you typically feel towards your parents and other family members.
It is a type of love that is driven by familiarity and which therefore does not depend so much on your inherent qualities.
Additionally, storge can be unilateral, such as in the case of a mother loving her child before the baby is even aware enough to feel the love for her back.
5. Agápe
Agápe is a universal and empathetic love directed towards God (or other higher entities), nature, and humanity itself.
Unlike Storge, Agápe does not depend on familiarity.
It is a selfless and altruistic love that involves caring for others (including strangers) without expecting anything in return.
6. Pragma
Pragma is a type of love that is based on commitment and the long-term best interests of the parties involved, such as the achievement of financial security and the foundation of a family.
It is a practical love that prioritizes elements such as personal qualities, compatibilities, and shared goals over sexual plays and passion.
Pragma involves patience, sacrifice, maturity, honesty, and a general attitude of “making it work“.
7. Philautia
Although self-love may seem like a new conecpt, it is not at all.
As a matter of fact, the ancient Greeks already had a word to capture this concept: Philautia.
The latter can be healthy or unhealthy.
Healthy Philautia arises when you cultivate your self-esteem through care and by doing things that nurture your mind, body and soul.
On the other hand, unhealthy Philautia is experienced when you have high levels of self-confidence that feed arrogance and selfishness.
This type of toxic self-love is often accompanied by narcissism, fame and status seeking and can lead to destruction and conflict.
I really hope you enjoyed this article and that it helped you to gain insight into the 7 types of love according to Greek ✨
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- 4 Signs of a healthy relationship
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- The 5 Love Languages: How to Love Better.