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yosoytico's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
3.0
While C.S. Lewis' "The Four Loves" may be a beloved classic in some circles, I found it to be both simplistic in its understanding of love, and outdated in problematic ways for a modern context. Firstly, the book reflects a very limited and conservative view of human relationships, focusing primarily on love within the context of heterosexual, monogamous, Christian relationships. This narrow perspective fails to acknowledge the diversity of human experience and the complexity of love across different cultures, gender identities, and sexual orientations. This was especially the case in the chapters on Friendship and Eros.
Furthermore, Lewis's exploration of the different forms of love is often overly simplistic and lacking in nuance. For example, his discussion of "Storge" is limited to familial relationships, ignoring the fact that affection and attachment can exist in a wide range of social contexts, beyond biological attachment. Similarly, his treatment of "Agape" as a purely selfless and unconditional love overlooks the ways in which power and control can be embedded in acts of selflessness. This is especially familiar to me as a student at a Christian college where I have seen the ways that "love" can be lived out in extremely toxic and manipulative ways, especially towards marginalized communities.
Speaking of marginalized communities, Lewis's take on Indigenous people and Christian Nationalism in the "Likes and Loves of the Subhuman" chapter was downright appalling and felt as if I was reading a treatise that was written to be harmonized with a furthering of White European empires, which, considering Lewis's context, is not entirely out of the question. Additionally, Lewis's understanding of gender roles between men and women is steeped in overt patriarchy. Despite this, Lewis does acknowledge that furthering common educational and occupational experiences for women may have the potential to lead to more platonic male/female friendships, which we certainly see in our day and age. Moreover, the book's theological underpinnings can be problematic for readers who do not share Lewis' Christian worldview. While he does attempt to offer some universal insights into the nature of love, much of his analysis is steeped in Christian doctrine and presuppositions that may be inaccessible or unappealing to non-Christian readers.
All in all, the core messages of this reflective and informal book are beautiful and philosophically rich if you are a sympathetic and privileged Christian who is able to look past the homophobia, racism, imperialism, and sexism that stain its pages.
Speaking of marginalized communities, Lewis's take on Indigenous people and Christian Nationalism in the "Likes and Loves of the Subhuman" chapter was downright appalling and felt as if I was reading a treatise that was written to be harmonized with a furthering of White European empires, which, considering Lewis's context, is not entirely out of the question. Additionally, Lewis's understanding of gender roles between men and women is steeped in overt patriarchy. Despite this, Lewis does acknowledge that furthering common educational and occupational experiences for women may have the potential to lead to more platonic male/female friendships, which we certainly see in our day and age. Moreover, the book's theological underpinnings can be problematic for readers who do not share Lewis' Christian worldview. While he does attempt to offer some universal insights into the nature of love, much of his analysis is steeped in Christian doctrine and presuppositions that may be inaccessible or unappealing to non-Christian readers.
All in all, the core messages of this reflective and informal book are beautiful and philosophically rich if you are a sympathetic and privileged Christian who is able to look past the homophobia, racism, imperialism, and sexism that stain its pages.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry
Moderate: Colonisation, Genocide, Transphobia, Xenophobia, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Homophobia, and Sexism
Minor: Gore and Death
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