Personal Autonomy Research Paper

Romantic Love And Personal Autonomy The one thing most of us hope for, maybe from our early childhood, is that we will find the exhilarating romance with the one and spend the rest of our lives with him/her. From love stories, we obtain the images of two young people, who just started dating, hugging each other closely and whispering sweet nothings. They might even be kissing passionately, or could not get enough of each other as if there is no one else in the world when the heat between them is climbing to the top. There is no doubt that we would envy the intimacy and obsession of them because they seem so happy and satisfied when having each other around. On the other hand, we might find the relationships between our parents are simple and

Indeed, romantic love may begin in biology, as Solomon puts it, “the inspiration and exhilaration of sexual attraction” (Solomon 43). However, romantic love is more than just sex or the means that nature uses to ensure human reproduction. It is guided and nurtured by ideas the lovers have about themselves, each other, and the world. First of all, romantic love is exclusive. Although being entitled “restricting”, “not permitting” and “not sharing with others”, exclusivity is considered as a moral norm which enables the people in romantic relationship to have more control and power. Secondly, romantic love is reciprocal. While some people are claiming that they are giving everything to their beloved ones and do not want anything in return, the eventual and essential aim for them is still to achieve the love. This is not surprising since we are all human and have individual self that requires various needs and desires to be satisfied. Thus, romantic love could not be longer viewed as selfless or unconditional. Furthermore, romantic love demand equality. For those givers, they are looking for the same attitudes and emotions as responses. If they do not gain the equivalent love, they may feel tired, no longer have the energy to hold “love” and finally give up. Accordingly, Solomon gives a subtle explanation that “the egalitarianism of love assures a continuing struggle for equal shares and status, a constant tension between demands, expectations, and sacrifices” (Solomon