Dialogue on Divine and Human Love

PHILO. Natural knowledge, appetite, or love is that which is found in non-sentient bodies, such as the elements and species of stones, and also plants, herbs, and trees; for all these have knowledge of their end and a natural inclination toward it. This inclination moves them toward that end, just as heavy bodies descend downward and light ones ascend upward, as if to a known and desired place of their own. This inclination is called, and truly is, natural appetite and love. Sensitive knowledge, or rather sensitive love, is that which is found in irrational animals, in order to pursue what is suitable and flee what is unsuitable—such as seeking food, drink, temperance In this context, Philo likely refers to the animal's natural instinct for moderation or physical balance required for survival., mating, rest, and similar things. It is necessary first to know these things and then to crave or love them, and subsequently to pursue them; for if the animal did not know them, it would not desire them, nor would it love them if it did not crave them, nor would it pursue them to have them; and not having them, it could not live. But this knowledge is not rational, nor is this appetite or love voluntary, for the will In Renaissance philosophy, "will" (volontà) is strictly defined as a faculty that requires rational deliberation, thus excluding animals. does not exist without reason; rather, these are the works of the sensitive faculty sensitive faculty The power of the soul related to perception through the senses and the physical desires that follow.. For this reason, we call it sensitive knowledge and love, or more properly speaking, appetite. Rational and voluntary knowledge and love is found only in human beings, as it proceeds from and is governed by reason, which—among all bodies subject to birth and decay original: "generabili & corruttibili." In Aristotelian physics, this refers to the "sublunary" world (the Earth) where things are born, change, and eventually die, unlike the eternal celestial spheres.—is granted only to humans.

SOPHIA. You say that voluntary love exists only in humans and not in other animals or lower bodies; and you also say that sensitive love or appetite exists in irrational animals and not in insensible bodies; and you say that natural love and appetite is that which is found only in the lower, insensible bodies. I wish now to understand if this natural love is also found in animals alongside the sensitive love they properly possess, and if this natural and sensitive love is also found in humans together with the rational and voluntary love that is unique to them.

PHILO. You have asked well, and it is indeed so: for with the more excellent love, the less excellent is also found, but with that which is lesser, the greater is not always present. Thus, in human beings, along with rational and voluntary love, one also finds sensitive love—to pursue those sensible things that are suitable for life while fleeing the unsuitable—and one also finds in them the natural inclination of bodies...