Saturday, July 16, 2011

A paper from my Passion & Reasoning class.

Conditions of Love : Book Review

As we begin, everything lacks definition. Contrast and tone are all we know. An expansion of time brings forth form and color. Everything seen is situated on a flat plain. It is not until movement is introduced that the third dimension can be recognized. The reality which we have come to know, an amalgam with the rest of the senses bind us to the way we understand our environment. It is not until we view a reflection of oneself that we are then able to become self aware. Though just because we are aware of how we cohere together does not mean that we are self-conscious.

Conditions of Love, by John Armstrong, portrays the philosophical analysis of love's challenges. It aims for the achievement of developing a mature conception of what love truly is and an understanding that ultimately lends to the nurturing of awareness. A relatively daunting task, asking to look within oneself for the answers.

Looking into a mirror, we admire ourselves, because it is a part of ourselves we are inherently disconnected with. We are viewing ourselves as another person would. When we are away from a mirror we often find it difficult to picture oneself in the minds eye. In fact, we often end up only visualizing overly simplified facial features when we emote. This is why we can relate so much to the iconic image of the smiley face. "When we think of ourselves, usually we do not think so much in terms of this or that character trait but of an imprecise and elusive individuality." (p.49)

Each of us live in our own realities. Reality is defined as the collaboration of commonalities that we all share, though we all experience these commonalities differently from one another. However, there is a risk in over generalizing what is expected. It is only when in the presence of others that we truly know ourselves. We surround ourselves with company to gauge the fabric of what makes us up. While at the same time, it's our defunct correlation between personal perceptions that makes us feel so lonely. "This is a key source of the feeling of isolation that can sweep over us; the sense that we live surrounded by others but alone inside ourselves."(p.50) We can only hope that one day we'll be able to share merely an essence of our personality with another. That someone will absorb and take part with us in our interpretation of earthly concerns.

"in self-consciousness, we grasp our personality as a whole; we think of ourselves as being a particular type of person."(p.57) Despite how much we think we are in control of ourselves at all times, there is a certain level of bodily functions that are subconscious. Our heart beats, our lungs inhale and exhale, and on a deeper more frightening level, our limbs move without our brain consciously telling them to do so. The same can be attributed to the irrational passions of love. "It is not up to us whether or not we fall in love, nor with whom; it happens, whether or not it corresponds to our wishes."(p.84) It's how we deal with it, using the knowledge that we've gained up until that point, that determines how well are relationships will work out.

On the road to self-consciousness, we must learn to be forgiving. To excuse our partners for the things they have wronged in us. Let bygones be bygones. It takes maturity to understand the many facets of your partner, but one must also be able to forgive themselves. One of the most admirable qualities is the ability to let go of one's own past mistakes in attempt to better one's future, rather then to dwell on things that have ceased to exist.

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