Question: What are the types of love defined in Greek philosophy?

Greek words for love





Part of a series onLove
Types of love
Affection
Bonding
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Compassionate love
Conjugal love
Courtly love
courtship
troubadours
Falling in love
Free love
Friendship
romantic
zone
Interpersonal relationship
Intimacy
Limerence
Love addiction
Love at first sight
Love triangle
Lovesickness
Lovestruck
Obsessive love
Passion
Platonic love
Puppy love
Relationship
Romance
Self-love
Amour de soi
Unconditional love
Unrequited love
Cultural views
French
Amour-propre
Chinese
Ren
Yuanfen
Yaghan
Mamihlapinatapei
Greek
words for love
Agape
Eros
Ludus
Mania
Philautia
Philia
Philos
Pragma
Storge
Xenia
Indian
Kama
Bhakti
Mettā
Islamic
Ishq
Jewish
Chesed
Latin
Amore
Charity
Portuguese
Saudade
Concepts
Color wheel theory of love
Biological basis
Love letter
Valentine's Day
Philosophy
Religious views
love deities
Mere-exposure effect
Similarity
Physical attractiveness
Triangular theory of lovevt
The Greek language distinguishes at least six different ways as to how the word love is used. Ancient Greek has six distinct words for love: philía, éros, agápe, storgē, pragma, and philautia. However, as with other languages, it is been difficult to distinguish the separate meanings of these words without carefully considering the context in which the words are used: In casual writing, the words' meanings overlap considerably. Nonetheless, the senses in which these words were generally used are as follows:
Philia (φιλία philía) means "affectionate regard, friendship", usually "between equals".[1] It is a dispassionate virtuous love, a concept developed by Aristotle.[2] In his best-known work on ethics, Nicomachean Ethics, philia is expressed variously as loyalty to friends (specifically, "brotherly love"), family, and community, and requires virtue, equality, and familiarity.
However, in the same text philos is also a generic term for any kind of love, used for love between family, between friends, a desire or enjoyment of an activity or food, as well as romance between lovers.
Éros (ἔρως érōs) means "love, mostly of the sexual passion".[3] The Modern Greek word "erotas" means "intimate love".
Plato refined his own definition: Although eros is initially felt for a person, with contemplation it becomes an appreciation of the beauty within that person, or even becomes appreciation of beauty itself. Plato does not talk of physical attraction as a necessary part of love, hence the use of the word platonic to mean, "without physical attraction". In the Symposium, the most famous ancient work on the subject, Plato has Socrates argue that eros helps the soul recall knowledge of beauty, and contributes to an understanding of spiritual truth, the ideal "Form" of youthful beauty that leads us humans to feel erotic desire – thus suggesting that even that sensually based love aspires to the non-corporeal, spiritual plane of existence; that is, finding its truth, just like finding any truth, leads to transcendence.[4] Lovers and philosophers are all inspired to seek truth through the means of eros.
Agápe (ἀγάπη agápē[5]) means "love: esp. charity; the love of God for man and of man for God".[6] Agape is used in ancient texts to denote feelings for one's children and the feelings for a spouse, and it was also used to refer to a love feast.[7] Agape is used by Christians to express the unconditional love of God for his children.[8] This type of love was further explained by Thomas Aquinas as "to will the good of another."[9]
Storge (στοργή storgē) means "tenderness, love, affection" and "especially of parents and children".[10] Storge is the common or natural empathy, like that felt by parents for offspring,[11] or all humans for young mammals that are ‘cute’.[12]
The word ‘storge’ is rarely used in ancient works, and then almost exclusively as a descriptor of relationships within the family. It is also known to express mere acceptance or enduring situations, as in "loving" the tyrant. This is also used when referencing the love for one's country or a favorite sports team.
pragma a model of love as two people may demonstrate during a lengthy marriage.
philautia self love (philos + auto + -ia) – love for one's own self.
See also
Diotima of Mantinea
Greek love
Intellectual virtue – Greek words for knowledge
Love styles
Restoration of Peter
The Four Loves by C. S. Lewis