Dialogue on Divine and Human Love

-ber its origin. The first word "remo" completes "remember" from the previous page. SO. Is not the origin of a thing prior to its universality? PH. It is indeed prior in existence, but it is not prior in our cognition From the Italian "cognitione," referring to the process of human understanding or perception.. SO. How so? PH. Because the commonality of love is more manifest to us than its origin, and from known things one arrives at the knowledge of the unknown. SO. You speak the truth; the universality of love is quite manifest, because almost no human is stripped of it, neither male nor female, neither old nor young; and even infants, in their first awareness, possess love for their mothers and their nurses. PH. Do you then think love is no more common than the human race? SO. Furthermore, love is found in all irrational animals A standard Renaissance term for animals, which were believed to lack "reason" (the rational soul) compared to humans. that procreate, between females and males, and between children and parents. PH. Not only is procreation the cause of the love found in humans and other animals, but there are many other causes; nevertheless, love is not only in these, but rather its commonality extends to many more things in the world. SO. Tell me first what other causes are found in living beings, and afterwards you shall tell me how love can also be found in things that are neither animate nor reproductive. PH. I will tell you first one and then the other. Animals, besides naturally loving things that are suitable in order to pursue them—just as they hate unsuitable things in order to flee them—also love one another reciprocally for five causes. First, for the desire and the delight of common generation Procreation or reproduction., males with females. Second, for generative succession, such as fathers and mothers with their children. Third, for benefit, which not only generates love in the recipient toward the giver, but no less causes it in the giver toward the recipient, even if they were of different species; as is seen when a dog or a goat nurses a child, they have a very great love for one another, and likewise if some other animal of a foreign species is nursed. Fourth, for the likeness of the same species, or another very similar one; for you will see individuals of every species of non-predatory animals engage in society because of the love they have for one another. Even predatory animals, although they do not go in company so as to enjoy the whole hunt alone, nonetheless have respect and love for those of their own species, so as not to use their natural and cruel ferocity or venomousness against them. And furthermore, among different species of animals, some friendly similarity is found, such as the dolphin with man; just as others are found who naturally hate each other, such as the basilisk A mythical reptile said to be the king of serpents, capable of killing with a single glance. and man, who kill each other with sight alone.