![]() ![]() In the Greek context, Affection-except for Eros, he hardly ever uses the Greek words in the book-is used most of familial love. Lewis deals first with Affection, from the Greek storge (two syllables, a hard g). The summit, for Lewis, is God’s love, which animates and perfects all other loves. When he has set out his definitions and has explored the terrain a little in the foothills of love, he dedicates a chapter each for navigating the Greek loves. He first explores the idea of liking (see this video and you’ll understand), fondness for pets and a love of nature and country. After separating love into two categories-Need-love, where something is received Gift-love, its altruistic opposite-Lewis chooses not to begin at the top of the mountain by exploring the idea of the love of God, but starts at the base and works upwards. ![]() Lewis explores the topic of love by looking at the four ancient Greek words for love. I am doing the same lecture again this Fall, so I thought it would be a great opportunity to finally read this famous book. In a lecture for my “ Myths of Love, Sex and Marriage” class in Fall 2010 I kept stumbling across references to this book in footnotes and weblinks. The Four Loves is also a book that I haven’t even pretended to read before. His Allegory of Love (1936) was the most popular of his work in literary criticism and was a kind of break-out book for him. The Four Loves is one of Lewis’ last Christian book and of his popular nonfiction, the one closest to his field of study. ![]()
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