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When we think about the definition of Love in today's society, it is not easy to think of one specific definition, or even one kind. Since Love, to every person is felt differently and is defined as so many different things, a feeling, a person, or a way of life, for example, it is difficult to encompass a true interpretation of what love means to people today. In ancient Greek philosophy, philosophic pillars such as Plato and Socrates often divided Love into two separate categories: Earthly and Heavenly. If one experienced earthly Love, one was overcome by lust and feelings of sexual rather than intellectual desire. On the other hand, if Love was shared spiritually and intellectually between two men, with divine aspirations, it was heavenly Love. In today's society, we tend to divide Love into three separate categories since the kind of Love we feel for different people is different. Love that we have for our parents or family members is one kind. This type of Love is manifested through fraternity and also through instinct. Another type is the Love between friends which also is shown through companionship. The last, most commonly associated emotion associated with Love is that which is shared between lovers. The difference of this type of love from the two others is that the relationship may involove sexual communion between the lovers.
In ancient Greek culture, women were thought of as little more than reproducers in a world where men were thought to dominate intellectually. It is for this reason that the most divine, heavenly Love could only be shared between two males and therefore homosexuality was considered to be quite acceptable in that society. Today, the most prevalent form of Love is that between husband and wife or man and woman. Since women in today's society are credited with much more intelligence than in ancient times, most devoted relationships are equal unions of man and woman. Although tha main difference between platonic Love and fraternal Love is the physical union of those involved, a virtuous platonic relationship will involove the joining of two people on an intellectual level as well. It can be seen in almost any successful marriage that the understanding that husband and wife have for each other can be quite exceptional and unlike any other relarionship. When two people come to know each other so well through the union that Love brings, it is as if they become one, in that they have pure understanding for each other's needs and feelings. It is at this point when two people can truly experience Love.
Due to the way modern society has developed over the centuries, the philosophies of the ancient world on Love have become far less contextually relevant for people today. Since, for the most part, we do not base our lives on an ensemble of fate divining Deities, our first conception of Love is not that of any specific God. Just as we do not relate Love to Aphrodite as the Greeks did in the ancient times, we do not try to focus our love relationships on the basis of pleasing the Gods. However although there are many cultural differences separating the ideas of Love over the ages, many of the deep underlying philosophies have remained the same. As anciently conceived, true Love is that which brings positive outcome for both individuals and that which is not dependent on, but rather grows from the physical aspect of the relationship. If a couple can grow and learn together and become better individuals from a union, then they will experience Love to it's fullest mean.
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