ABSTRACT
The pre-modern concept of love was not that of an emotion, but, rather, an intricate system of philosophical thought. In a basic division, love was understood as either gentle – relatable to the Classical notions of agape and caritas, fuelling the love of one’s children, filial love, loyalty to one’s feudal master, love of one’s neighbour and love of one’s country and cultural customs (when not in danger) – or passionate – associated with the notions of eros or passio – which can be both human and divine. Plato’s philosophy of love, which crucially influenced European pre-modern systems of thought about love, concerns the passionate kind.
