I just found this quote the other day by an eminent artist-existential philosopher and important voice in the history of discussion about "what is love?" and what is the role of love. Not all may agree with Camus. But can we understand Camus intelligently and with critical reflection and making arguments about this quote? I leave it here as a FORUM prompt for us all.
My impression of the quote is that it speaks a lot of (dialectical) truth. Now, what does dialectical mean? It is a methodology of knowing truth? Let's also explore that here. And, what is the alternative? The discussion here is philosophical and methodological. For example, how is dualistic different than dialectical.
My research has shown most people like to express a belief, faith, or posit a premise that Love is not fear. This takes many shapes and forms, mostly seen in the religious literatures (especially, of the Middle-East). When I developed a Fearlessness Paradigm (meta-perspective) on reality and as a methodological orientation, I more or less have arrived to the premise that one cannot understand Love without understandng Fear and visa a versa. When pushed by critics I'll even assert Fearlessness is a good replacement for the dominanting privileging of Love that so often rips across the knowledge domains, the disciplines of knowing and popular culture. To say the least, I am not a big fan of Love (love) unless it is closely harnessed by critical thinking and methodologies, like the above but not limited to the above.
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I found a Ranier Rilke quote on "love" in its fullest, authentic expression, which I think is rather wise:
August 18
DREAD AND MYSTERY
More than once I have mentioned to you how my life and work have been guided by the effort to overcome the old pressures that rob us of mystery; the mystery essential to our capacity to love from fullness. Humanity has been terrified and beset by dread; but is there anything noble and gracious that has not, from time to time, worn the mask of dread? [bold added for emphasis]
Letter to Countess Margot Sizzo-Noris-Crouy
April 12, 1923