Dialogue on Divine and Human Love

...men and their differences, but I would like to know if there is any other reason for love in men that is not found in irrational creatures. PH. There are two reasons for love in men of which animals are totally deprived. SO. Explain them. PH. One is the conformity of nature and complexion complexion Italian: complessione. In Renaissance medicine and philosophy, this refers to an individual's specific temperament or "makeup," determined by the balance of the four bodily humors: blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile. of one man with another, which—without any other reason—makes them become friends upon their first meeting. Finding no other reason for such friendship, it is said that their complexions "suit" one another. In effect, it is a certain similarity or harmonic correspondence that one complexion has with the other, just as one also finds hatred among men without apparent cause, which arises from a lack of similarity or a disproportion of their complexions. The Astrologers During this period, astrology was considered a serious science related to medicine and philosophy, used to explain natural inclinations. say that this friendly conformity proceeds from a similar position or proportionality of the planets and celestial signs at the birth of both individuals; likewise, the hostile deformity of complexions arises from a dissimilar and disproportionate celestial position at their birth. This cause of love and friendship is known in men, but not in animals. SO. What is the other? PH. The other is moral and intellectual virtues, which are the reasons why excellent men are greatly loved by good men. The merits of these virtues cause honest love honest love Italian: amore honesto. Derived from the Latin amor honestus, this refers to a noble, virtuous love directed toward the "Good," as opposed to love based on mere utility or physical pleasure., which is the most worthy of all. For human beings, without any other cause, love one another effectively for virtue and wisdom alone with a love more perfect and more firm than that based on utility or pleasure. All the other five reasons for love are included within this one; this alone is "honest love" and is generated by right reason, and therefore it is not found in irrational animals. SOPH. I have understood how many reasons for love there are in men and in irrational animals, but I see that all of these are proper to living beings. Yet you say that love is not only common to living beings, but also to other insensible bodies Inanimate objects, such as stones, elements, or celestial bodies, which do not possess sensory organs., which seems strange to me. PH. Why strange? SO. Because nothing can be loved if it is not first known, and insensible bodies do not have a cognitive faculty cognitive faculty Italian: uirtù conoscatiua. The power or ability to perceive, recognize, or understand information about the world. within themselves. Furthermore, love arises from the will or appetite appetite Italian: appetito. In this philosophical sense, it refers to a natural inclination or "pull" toward what is good or necessary for an object's existence, not just physical hunger. that is imprinted in the senses. Insensible bodies have neither will, nor appetite, nor sensation; how, then, can they have love? PH. Knowledge and appetite—and consequently love—exist in three modes: sensitive, rational, and voluntary. SO. Explain all three to me.