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griffin tucker

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What is love?

is love just a chemical reaction of 'pheromones' that can't be seen?

Or is love a mysterious emotion that we will never understand but only experience?

Personally, i believe love exists, or otherwise some sort of fate or determinism exists to a point that time travel exists in order for us to experience it (yes, that's how crazy i get when i fall in love with a woman...)

So, what do you think? is love real? Would you prefer not to know if it weren't?

Related Talks:
Topics: love philosophy science
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    Luis Javier López Arredondo

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    Nov 6 2012: Love is a feeling, by definition, cannot be defined.

  • Ed Schulte 50+

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    Nov 4 2012: If Love wasn't

    then existence would not be either....

    I suspect if you check your question would be in the top five in frequency ....but before the question is ask it must be understood that love exists in duality as Reflected AND as Direct emanation (Non - reflected) the latter you cannot "fall into" you are it to the degree that it emanates from you.

    Is it a "chemical retain"? yes ...is it "Non-chemical"?? ..yes

  • Joyce Goodale

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    Nov 4 2012: Love is the exchange of like-energy between two forms of life (people, animals, plants), that connect at the same time on the same plane. It connects to other like-energy, disconnects from dissimilar energy, and forms a web of energies that become family., then community and outwards. Love means wanting the best energy that can surround your energy and the energy of those in your energy field. Sometimes the energy connection weakens to the point that it must leave a particular web of energy and connect to another web. Energy connections are never broken, just weakened, even in death.
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    elizabeth muncey 10+

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    Nov 3 2012: G'day mate. I like to think about love as the opportunity to be elevated in difficult times by acts of kindness. Just being who you are and saying good day to people and no worries and thank you, being there for people in difficulty and people who are lonely. Not being there for people who debase you. Like the three treasures of the -ching, to do with moods rather than materials you will note. Compassion, modesty and frugality. Also note the warning from the Ancient Greeks about those who give with no thought to the cost to themselves. We are group animals and capable of being lone wolves at some points in our lives. Oz animals unique so appropriate natural metaphors more to do with fresh water crocs 'salties' and whatever they feed on. Love to reflect on these ideas using visual metaphors of M.C. Escher, particularly Sky and Water. Some hormones really get in the way of short-term cognitive processing. Love is just a natural high.
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    Yuddandi Sivasubramanyam

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    Nov 3 2012: Love is termed in different manner. it is the level of attachment involuntarily takes place in ones heart based on connectivity.
    the society /community is architectured in such a way our culture knits a demand for oneness. the urge to unite is a trigger to biological dynamic performance for further strengthening. this is the starting point of family. sudden with drawl of physical connectivity for some time /for ever deprives our sensual satisfaction.
    the severity is the pain source of individual.
    how ever it is a true force for eternal peace and spiritual path. one should not cling to sensual love for sake of pleasure/appeasing senses. raise above the senses and love for love sake. this is the essence of every religion on planet.
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    Ken brown 30+

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    Nov 3 2012: A Song.

  • Robert Galway 30+

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    Nov 3 2012: Love is an emotion that connects us very deeply to a small group of people. It is a learned behavior and is learned at different levels as humans emotional mature. In one phase of life, the natural instinct to reproduce serves as an inspiration to find a mate and emotionally connect with this person such that any off-spring will be cared for by both a male and a female until the child can care for itself. Nature has also hard-wired our brains to make the feelings associated with this love very pleasurable and comforting. This is the balance nature has provided to create and sustain life.
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    W. Ying 10+

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    Nov 3 2012: It is:
    To keep DNA alive ==> Symbiosis ==> Love.

    Or, there is no human in the world.
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    Scott Armstrong 50+

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    Nov 2 2012: I always liked JWL's take on Love..
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GmVajkqLNU
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    Gerald O'brian 50+

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    Nov 2 2012: The best STD I ever got.

  • daniel hehir 20+

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    Nov 2 2012: .....Love is just a four letter word....
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    Lejan . 30+

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    TED Translator
    Nov 2 2012: Love is a biochemical reaction in our brains and as 'real' as all our emotions are. Other nervous systems will be affected.
    The response pattern are not static and subject to change over time, feedback and knowledge. High intensity levels interfere with reasoning, which can have both, positive and negative consequences and creates addictive behaviour.

    Pheromones are information carrier for DNA comparison and support, not trigger, a love response by themselves.
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    Feyisayo Anjorin 50+

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    Nov 2 2012: God is love. 1 John 4:7 & 8
    Love is what humanity seeks the most because we are made to love. But we have to love the one who gives us this ability first before we can share love and receive love. Because you can only give what you have.
    As Peter Law has wisely said, love is a decision. It can only be strengthened by commitment and trust.
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    Peter Law 50+

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    Nov 2 2012: Hi Griffin,
    The ancient Greeks had half a dozen words for love, so our language doesn't really do justice.
    My take is that it is a decision to put an other's well being before one's own. That may well be initiated by warm fuzzy feelings for a member of the opposite sex, or even a warm furry animal, but love is the decision itself.
    John 15:13 (KJV)
    Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

    :-)
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