Eros (love)

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Eros is the Greek (ἔρως) word for (especially) romantic or sexual love. The term erotic is derived from eros.

In Freudian psychology, Eros, also referred to in terms of libido, libidinal energy or love, is the life instinct innate in all humans. It is the desire to create life and favours productivity and construction. Eros battles against the destructive death instinct of Thanatos (death instinct or death drive).

Eros love might best be defined as promoting well-being by affirming that which is valuable or beautiful (Thomas Jay Oord).

Eros can also be defined as the longing for wholeness or completeness, and is used to describe fulfillment between man/woman and man/Gods.

According to Allan Bloom in Love and Friendship: "The Fall of Eros", true Eros has been eroded by the scientific way society has gone about analyzing love. This is seen especially in the work of Sigmund Freud and Alfred Kinsey. Such scientific observations of Eros, sex, and love have led us away from giving in to true overwhelming attraction for another and from finding true love.

[edit] See also

• The Greek god Eros
• The Four Loves
• Greek words for love
• Limerence, a modern term describing the infatuation and romantic desires commonly associated with eros.