Emotions rank right up there with consciousness itself as one of the great mysteries of the inner workings and hidden mechanisms of the human mind. Why do we have them? What purpose do they serve? Are they controllable? Regardless, two of the strongest emotions are love and hate. So, the question is, which of the two is stronger or more powerful?
Perhaps we could begin with the difficult task of defining terms. Not that agreement is likely, but think of love as a positive feeling for someone or something outside one's self and hate as a negative feeling for someone or something outside one's self. Of course, it can be said that one loves or hates him/herself, but for our purposes, let's consider only the external aspects of the two emotions.
When we reflect on these two at the same time, it is easy to consider them as opposites, like two sides of the same coin. But are they really? If they were, you could not have one without the other: it would be impossible to love without hating, and vice versa. How often is this demonstrated in our daily lives?
It might be more constructive to consider apathy as the opposite of both love and hate. If this is true, it would be possible to experience one without the other, each existing independently based on its source.
But this raises an interesting question. What is the source of love and hate? Do they arise from the same source within the brain/mind? Is one more fundamental than the other?
It is also easy to apply that other great dichotomy of “good" and "bad" to our consideration of love and hate. In an ideal world, all love would be good and all hate would be bad. But how often do we see examples of love turning destructive and good coming from hate?
Who do we love or hate and why? Do these feelings change over time, and if so why? How do we express our love or hate? John Hinckley, Jr. expressed his love, or at least his obsession, with Jodie Foster in a most unfortunate way.
Which holds more power, building and accomplishing through love or destroying through hate?
Perhaps we could begin with the difficult task of defining terms. Not that agreement is likely, but think of love as a positive feeling for someone or something outside one's self and hate as a negative feeling for someone or something outside one's self. Of course, it can be said that one loves or hates him/herself, but for our purposes, let's consider only the external aspects of the two emotions.
When we reflect on these two at the same time, it is easy to consider them as opposites, like two sides of the same coin. But are they really? If they were, you could not have one without the other: it would be impossible to love without hating, and vice versa. How often is this demonstrated in our daily lives?
It might be more constructive to consider apathy as the opposite of both love and hate. If this is true, it would be possible to experience one without the other, each existing independently based on its source.
But this raises an interesting question. What is the source of love and hate? Do they arise from the same source within the brain/mind? Is one more fundamental than the other?
It is also easy to apply that other great dichotomy of “good" and "bad" to our consideration of love and hate. In an ideal world, all love would be good and all hate would be bad. But how often do we see examples of love turning destructive and good coming from hate?
Who do we love or hate and why? Do these feelings change over time, and if so why? How do we express our love or hate? John Hinckley, Jr. expressed his love, or at least his obsession, with Jodie Foster in a most unfortunate way.
Which holds more power, building and accomplishing through love or destroying through hate?
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on March 16, 2011
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