Philosophical Grounds of an Educational Aspect of Love

Abstract

The author analyzes different kinds of love: love of oneself, love between man and woman, maternal and paternal love, children's love as well as brotherly love. The essence of love is to enlighten the intellect. Love is free, love evokes love, it unites, overcomes itself (forgets about „I”, leaves the „I”). Natural love ought to be transformed into personal love. It is not an easy and gentle process because of the forces which act against love in the world and in a man himself. It reveals the conflict between nature and the person. The Christian tradition shows three ways of reaching perfection: the way of purification, enlightening, and union. The way of purification requires negative pedagogy (that is first of all struggling with evil inside a man), and the way of enlightening – positive pedagogy (realization of good). The postulate of educational optimism is also important.