Unconditional Love?

[zoltanspawn]

Dogs were bred to be loyal for a reason. History is filled with primitive tribes who, upon their king's death, their servants would kill themselves so they could follow him to heaven.

Do you really think that's an example of unconditional love, or just loyalty?

Your original post didn't reduce love to "loyalty" but to a "food source."

 

[Vitamin]

Your original post didn't reduce love to "loyalty" but to a "food source."

You don't seem to realize that either quality was what we bred into dogs. It's the same thing, as far as the animal is concerned. We made them that way.

 

[bankside]

You don't seem to realize that either quality was what we bred into dogs. It's the same thing, as far as the animal is concerned. We made them that way.

That doesn't differ from how & why humans experience those things. Dogs and humans have a common ancestor. These bonds evolved in both of us.

 

[SLOPPYSECONDS]

ans bambi figa how use machine a gun
"oooh so easyyyyyyy innit"
now bambi be nice

haaaaaaa

tinku

it a okay a mars folkees tak a teddy bear or oda stuff a whateva
* eeeeeeeeeeeeeee *

" wonda wen univesrse send rescue party? "
at classfied

 

[Vitamin]

That doesn't differ from how & why humans experience those things. Dogs and humans have a common ancestor. These bonds evolved in both of us.

Ha. If you want to go back far enough it's assumed all life on this planet evolved from a common ancestor. Does that mean plants are capable of unconditional love? Are bacteria?

And as a matter of fact, all that study you're referencing actually said was that dogs have the ability to tune into human emotions and react accordingly. Psychopaths have that ability too.

 

[tarallucci]

I love you even if you don't love me. Could this be an example?

 

[jbrown329]

Ha. If you want to go back far enough it's assumed all life on this planet evolved from a common ancestor. Does that mean plants are capable of unconditional love? Are bacteria? <snip>

You forgot Amoeba.

 

[Dashriprock3172]

Never experienced it but hope it exists

 

[SLOPPYSECONDS]

Never experienced it but hope it exists

sure it a do

pinku

 

[zoltanspawn]

I think when we say that dogs have unconditional love for us, we mean that the faults which would normally destroy love between humans (e.g., moral failures, poverty, illness, poor aesthetics) do not destroy a dog's love for their companion. About the only thing which destroys a dogs love for their person is abuse, and sadly it would seem, sometimes even abuse doesn't stop a poor beast from giving its affection. In comparison to frail human love, a dog's love has less conditions attached. So it's probably more accurate to say a dog's love is "less conditional" and if that sort of awkward sentiment is preferable, I wouldn't debate it.

I do find it odd that the notion of love is being looked at skeptically, but some are entirely happy to describe the same behavior as a neurosis, as though love is a strange thing and mental illness is standard. How unfortunate.

You don't seem to realize that either quality was what we bred into dogs. It's the same thing, as far as the animal is concerned. We made them that way.

I think this is your argument:
a) We bred dogs to have certain qualities like loyalty.
b) Therefore, dogs don't experience love, but in fact loyalty.

I don't believe b) follows from a).

 

[luckynumbah7]

I do find it odd that the notion of love is being looked at skeptically, but some are entirely happy to describe the same behavior as a neurosis, as though love is a strange thing and mental illness is standard. How unfortunate.

I don't believe anyone here disputed the concept of love. It's the unconditional, or the uncompromising or the 'feeling-nothin-except' love. I'll gladly argue against holding up a behavior/action that sees dieing through a (temporary or no) inability to care for oneself as sweet or romantic. It's unhealthy. Often unavoidable after a certain age if you're partnered, but what a nasty example of love, dieing through inattention or depression. It's not like the example said "I'm ready to go, everything's taken care of and people/pets I love are waiting." no, it's always 'pining away at the graveside in horrific health, preferably wasting away with a dripping tear, because people like to pretend the amount of love given has a finite amount and you've now spent the love and care you're supposed to have for yourself on the dead. Or that you've no love to give others, and if you do, you must not've loved that previous partner too much, clearly there were no issues 'moving on'..... Hell, you did move on, or one of you had an affair ect ect, clearly it wasn't pristine so it don't count...

Unconditional love is part of true love as a concept and it's often nasty in it's sociological aspects.

So, no one answered that I saw - what, exactly, is the difference between unconditional love and someone not starving themselves to death at a bedside? Is that really the dividing line or what?

 

[luckynumbah7]

Reminds me, I want to see 'The Perfect Guy' in theaters. Now there's some unconditional, all encompassing love.

~snorts~

(I don't think the full affect is possible on a small screen, judging by preview y'need a theatre for the 'where's Waldo' bit.)