I'm going to assume most of you are knowledgeable people. The loosely used term of "love" is thrown around so often I'm going to attempt to explain it through evolutionary means.

Before explaining it we need a base line definition to work from.

The dictionary describes love as:
A feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection, as for a parent, child, or friend.

Sexual passion or desire.

The latter can easily be explained. No love + no children = Extinction. We're hard wired for sexual activities for progression and development of the species.

The former on the other hand, is a little more difficult. It appears to be focusing more on the psychological aspect.

This can possibly be explained through naturally occurring morals. Basically if every member of a species wildly killed each other, the species would not thrive. When feasting piranhas will devour flesh but rarely attack each other.

Many species have a bond to their offspring. This can be traced back to the dinosaurs.

Some species of spider will allow their offspring to feed on the parent to ensure a higher likelihood or survival.

Remarkably, some members of Crocodilia after their young are abandoned at an early age if other members of that same species thinks they're in distress they will come to the rescue.

In species that require nurture, having a psychological or biological bond will have a higher likelihood of surviving and the parent passing on it's experience to the offspring.

Affection towards another could refer more to the second definition. But having a positive attitude towards others can possibly ensure a more stable society and thus, forwarding the species further.

So if I'm right, the conclusion is you will feel 'love' to maintain the species in the struggle for survival.

Most animals will kill so they can pass on their genes. Apparently we've adapted this quality to mere social status.

I wont refer to independent, differentiating social structures, physical and/or emotional preferences etc. Let's keep it simplistic.

Interesting read, were you bored ?
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[quote="handsel"]

You say many creatures don't need wars.

no-one NEEDS war. !!

Every type of creature on this planet will fight though - whether it's defending its 'home' or protecting its family.

I also think you have confused the definition of Natural selection. I think instead what you are refering to is evolution. Natural selection would lean more towards survival of the fittest.

However that is just my opinion on the above and i welcome your reply !
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dude.. none of us said 'all'
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love is..

when your partner farts in bed, and you still don't kick them out.

thats true love right there.

All this talk of genetics and evolution....does it actually make you any better at relationships? It is one thing to know the past and the bigger picture but it doesn't mean shit if you don't know how to relate to yourself and the person you are in love with, on an everyday basis, does it?

You people are so cuckoo.

1. Why would you wanna be better at relationships when there's so much hypotethical mumbo jumbo to talk about? lol

2. Natural selection is indeed what Stu said. But the sick aren't left to die in this world. Otherwise we'd be much less. =))))))))) YA KNOW???

3. This man sort of has a point, but he's discovering hot water. So themanwhoknew, knows not much more than we all do. =)))) Tell us the cure for death, precious. =)

4. As for the love and the fart... You don't need love for that. If it's unintentional then it's part of this fucking thing we call human nature. If it's intentional and repeated over and over again, then you should kick the mother fucker asap, as much as you fucking love him. =)) Put a screwdriver thru his head, don't be shy. =))) Be positive. NEVER GO DOWN THAT PATH. YOU CAN NEVER RETURN.

I actually agree with Bliss on #4 !! well maybe not the screwdriver bit, but the rest makes sense !!
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Of course, of course! A fundamental right for women!

The rights campaigned for by the Suffragette Movement, for example property, voting, etc, were just a mask to get that one great freedom.
The conventions of that time didn’t even allow them to mention it: ladies couldn’t talk about it to anyone, except maybe their doctors.

The UN Convention allowing parity or equality in farting reads (in part):
Any distinction, exclusion or restriction made on the basis of love which has the effect or purpose of impairing or nullifying the recognition, enjoyment or exercise by women, irrespective of their marital status, on a basis of equality of men and women, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil or any other field.

But – as you can no doubt see – even today with all our advances and advantages, it had to be hidden away in the terms ‘fundamental freedoms’ and ‘any other field’.
(The fundament being the buttocks or anus and ‘any other field’ being a coy way of saying ‘in bed’. )
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Give me golf clubs, fresh air and a beautiful partner, and you can keep the clubs and the fresh air.
(Jack Benny)