“Four Loves” seemed to be a worthwhile way to explore the subject, and I recommend it for this purpose. ), so the subject of relationships in modern America subsequently became of interest to me. He explained that the Greek distinguishment between types of relationships or love is far more precise than the blanket concept of love in the English language.Ī few years ago, I read about the ills of male loneliness (. Lewis’s friendship drew me into the book in which he discussed four types of love: (1) storgí or affection, (2) filía or friendship, (3) eros, and (4) agape. Yet in self-reliant America with our deep sense of individual, it can be easy to forget the intimacy that can develop between people and the depths of how affecting that intimacy can be. Admittedly, this idea in itself is not surprising. The story struck me and emphasized the way that people shape who we are. They can then say, as the blessed souls say in Dante, ‘Here comes one who will augment our loves.’”

Two friends delight to be joined by a third, and three by a fourth, if only the newcomer is qualified to become a real friend. Hence true Friendship is the least jealous of loves. Far from having more of Ronald, having him ‘to myself’ now that Charles is away, I have less of Ronald. Now that Charles is dead, I shall never again see Ronald’s reaction to a specifically Charles joke. By myself I am not large enough to call the whole man into activity I want other lights than my own to show all his facets. “In each of my friends there is something that only some other friend can fully bring out. This was Lewis’s observation after Williams died: Tolkien and author Charles Williams, who died unexpectedly. Four Loves made it onto my reading list because of an excerpt I once read about Lewis and his group of friends, the Inklings.

Types of love cs lewis