by PPF Member Danelle Morrow
The philosophy of love goes back as far as time. Love is never-ending, and stronger than the flow of a river roaring down the mountain rushing toward the ocean.
There are many types of love, and though everybody perceives it differently, the philosophy remains the same.
The term eros (Greek erasthai) is used to refer to that part of love constituting a passionate, intense desire for something; often thought to be referred to as a sexual desire, bringing the common day term “erotic.”
On the other hand, the Greek word philia expresses a fondness and appreciation for one another, either because the friendship is useful, or because the character and values of another are pleasing. Objectively it can be seen as those who share our dispositions, who hold no grudges, who are likeminded, who are temperate and just, or who admire us as we admire them.
Still though, my personal favorite philosophical view is called Agape, it refers to the paternal love of God for man and of man for God, but is extended to include a brotherly love for all humanity. Agape draws from elements from both eros and philia in that it seeks a perfect kind of love that is at once a fondness and a passion without the necessity of reciprocity. The concept is expanded on in the Judaic-Christian tradition of loving God: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might” (Deuteronomy 6:5) and loving “thy neighbour as thyself” (Leviticus 19:18). The love of God requires absolute devotion that is reminiscent of Plato’s love of Beauty, which involves an erotic passion, awe, and desire that transcends earthly cares and obstacles.
You may ask yourself, How does this tie into Put People First? I will gladly explain. Right now we are focused on universal healthcare, but once that is accomplished, we will be moving on to bigger and better things. We fight back against oppression and poverty through grassroots organizing, and those grassroots we created began with love for one another, without regard for color, religion, social status, or disability.
In Put People First, I have come to know some amazing people, and we are invested in each other’s well-being. Members and field organizers of Put People First have the ability to love, not just those who they know or who are familiar, but to love all people as human beings. I am proud to be apart of this organization and proud to watch the growth take place as we begin to build our way to a new revolution for the people, by the people.