Summary

In "The Art of Loving," Erich Fromm explores the nature of love, arguing that it is an art requiring knowledge, effort, and practice, rather than a passive feeling. He differentiates between mature love, characterized by giving, care, responsibility, respect, and knowledge, and various forms of pseudo-love prevalent in modern Western society. Fromm argues that love is rooted in the human condition, our inherent separateness, and the need to overcome it through union with others. He discusses several forms of love, including brotherly love, motherly love, erotic love, self-love, and love of God. Brotherly love is the fundamental sense of responsibility, care, and respect for all human beings. Motherly love is the unconditional affirmation of a child's life and growth, wanting nothing in return. Erotic love is an exclusive and passionate desire for complete fusion with one other person. Self-love is presented as a prerequisite for loving others, and not synonymous with selfishness, which stems from a lack of self-love. Fromm also delves into the concept of love of God, arguing that its meaning depends on the individual's character and their most valued good. He contrasts the patriarchal, demanding fatherly God with the all-encompassing motherly God, and proposes that mature love of God transcends both concepts, becoming a symbol for truth, love, and justice.