In his insightful 1960 book the four loves public library, c. He is a british writer and held academic positions in english literature at both oxford university magdalen college, 19251954 and cambridge university magdalene college, 19541963. Charity now means simply what used to be called alms. The first 3 are natural loves, whereas charity is a supernatural love. With his characteristic warmth and lucidity, lewis. Dec 20, 2012 about john i am a married, 46year old, midwesterner, with four children. But i think we have become so in the attempt to reduce all virtues to kindness.
I wont claim to be giving a comprehensive answer, but here i will explore and develop c. Lewis explores the various types of human love and affection based on the four separate greek words for love storge affection, philia friendship, eros sexual love, and agape charity or selfless love. An additional 15minute session, answering questions received in the mail, was broadcast on september 6. The book was based on a set of radio talks from 1958 which had been criticised in the u. Lewiss contribution to this question of divine love in his 1960 classic the four loves. In this passage from the four loves, lewis examines the distinction between divine and human love, and how gods version has the power to transform our own vi charity. Lewiss famous work on the nature of love divides love into four categories.
However, most people still use the word love in that context. Lewis wrote this book was based on a set of radio talks from 1958. The four loves has to be one of my favorite books by c. Before there was lewis radio talk on four different kinds of love, produced by the bbc in 1958 the only audio that we have still remaining of lewis himself, and the subsequent publishing of the four loves in 1960, we have a reference in his letters about his thoughts on love, based in the scriptures. Friends, he says, are not oriented primarily toward one another, as lovers are, but toward a common task or area of interest. In his book, the four loves, author and theologian c. In what is love, we made the distinction between divine or giftlove so called because it demands nothing in return and is closest to love himself and the natural or needloves so called because they are earthly human loves born of a need to be loved. As we know, scripture tells us that love is the highest attribute. If a man has charity, giving to the poor is one of the most obvious things he does, and so people came to talk as if that were the whole of charity. Throughout this compassionate and reasoned study, he encourages readers to open themselves to all forms of lovethe key to understanding that brings us. Charity is a kind of selfgiving love he distinguishes giftlove from needlove but one which comes from the purest of places. Oct 08, 2011 charity now means simply what used to be called almsthat is, giving to the poor. The loves prove that they are unworthy to take the place of god by the fact that. Lewis has chapters not only on eros and agape but also on friendship, which he treats as a distinct species of love.
Lewis explores the four kinds of human love in one of his most famous works of nonfiction. The four loves summary and study guide supersummary. Masterful without being magisterial, this books wise, gentle, candid reflections on the virtues and dangers of love draw on sources from jane austen to st. Mar 05, 2018 originally the four loves series was recorded by lewis in london in 1958, prepared as 10 talks to air on the protestant hour on american radio in 1959. Cs lewis clive staples lewis 1898 1963 is one of my favorite authors of all time. Charity, however, the giftlove of god, is divine in its source and expression, and without the sweetening grace of this supernatural love, the natural loves. Notes below originally the four loves series was recorded by lewis in london in 1957, prepared as 10 talks to air on the protestant hour on american radio. A married couple, for example, comes together and has children through eros, but will usually over time also develop affection, friendship, and even a certain mutual charity that includes their duties to the creator. Before there was lewis radio talk on four different kinds of love, produced by the bbc in 1958 the only audio that we have still remaining of lewis himself, and the subsequent publishing of the four loves in 1960, we have a reference in his letters about his thoughts on love, based. Lewis was paid 2 pounds sterling for each letter and gave the money to charity. Cs lewiss the four lovesa humble summary logically.
With penetrating logic and winsome wit, he explores the four aspects of love. Robert irish charity is not an act for lewis, as in acts of charity rather it is a type of love, the highest form, built upon the other three types of natural love. Love can be divided into four different distinct types. Clive staples lewis 18981963, one of the great writers of the twentieth century, also continues to be one of our most influential christian thinkers. The four loves 1958 helps readers understand love more clearly by dividing it into several categories and advancing a paradoxical thesis that puts love into proper christian perspective. This time with a book beginning with the premise god is love and analyzing the four loves man knows well, but often understands little, affection, friendship, eros and charity, exploring along the way the threads of needlove and giftlove that run through all. Clive staples lewis 18981963 was a british novelist, poet, academic, medievalist. Originally the four loves series was recorded by lewis in london in 1958, prepared as 10 talks to air on the protestant hour on american radio. He identifies these kinds of love as affection, the most basic form. Lewis elaborates on the essence of each of these varieties of love and uses love as an entry point for understanding the. The four loves summarizes four kinds of human loveaffection, friendship, erotic love, and the love of god. Lewis which explores the nature of love from a christian and philosophical perspective through thought experiments.
Charity cs lewis, cs lewis quote, christian discipleship. We can be at ease as we delve deeply into topics concerning all the most important questions of life. Lewis beloved classic is the only existing recording of lewis reading his own work. By distinguishing needlove such as the love of a child for its mother from. With his characteristic warmth and lucidity, lewis examines how love works in our lives and allows us to be. May 20, 2014 a summary of cs lewiss classic, the four loves. Lewis which explores the nature of love from a christian perspective through thoughtexperiments and examples from literature. However, the virtue of charity comes by choosing to act lovingly toward the unlikeable. In its own right, the garden is a good thing, but it requires a gardener to nurture it and help it reach its potential. Charity now means simply what used to be called almsthat is. Johns words god is love for a simple inroads to his topic. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 170 pages and is available in paperback format. Oct 17, 2016 i wont claim to be giving a comprehensive answer, but here i will explore and develop c.
Lewis writes, the natural loves are not selfsufficient. Again, herein is love, not that we loved god but that he loved us i john 4. Cs lewiss the four lovesa humble summary logically faithful. Lewis reflects on the definition and difficulty of loving ones neighbor. Lewis and originally published in 1960, presents the authors philosophical and theological differentiation of four types of love. Professor lewis writes with an easiness rare amongst writers, speaks deliberately and with wisdom in his words. It is written with a deep perception of human beings and a. The first three are loves which come naturally to the human race. September 20th, 2006 was the day that changed my life. The four loves is among his most celebrated achievements, as are out of the silent planet, the chronicles of narnia, the screwtape letters, and surprised by joy. Lewis talks about loves in terms of affection, friendship, eros, and charity.
My primary interest is in leading a very examined and decent and loving life. All different types are used in the bible to define different types of love and they are all greek words. A study of the four loves divides very easily into a twopart discussion, or even a fourpart one if you wish to look at each love separately andor to incorporate questions raised by the introduction, and the chapter on sub human loves as well. As students of jesus we are invited into a deep study of life with the master of life as our teacher. The book was based on a set of radio talks from 1958. The main characters of this christian, non fiction story are. Oct 17, 2011 the everpopular and highly readable c. Dec 03, 2018 lewis reminds us that the loves often mix with each other. Charity lewis sets charity apart from the natural loves because they are not selfsufficient 116. Charity now means simply what used to be called almsthat is, giving to the poor.
Lewiss famous inspirational work on the nature of love. A response to cs lewis the four loves augustine collective. Originally the four loves series was recorded by lewis in london in 1958, prepared as 10 talks to air on the protestant hour on american radio in 1959. In some ways, this book is a companion to till we have faces, which illustrates through fiction many of the lewiss concepts regarding the nature of love. In the book the four loves, lewis will take the reader on a quest to discover and explore the various types of love felt, given, and received by humans. Sep 08, 2014 in his insightful 1960 book the four loves public library, c. The chapter on charity love of god may be the best thing lewis ever wrote about christianity.
C s lewis analyzes the feelings and problems involved in different types of human love, including familial affection, friendship, passion, and charity. In august, he gave four live radio talks over the bbc on wednesday evenings from 7. The four loves and thoughts on charity along the beam. May 14, 2017 originally the four loves series was recorded by lewis in london in 1958, prepared as 10 talks to air on the protestant hour on american radio. Lewis reminds us that the loves often mix with each other. S lewis talk about the second of the four loves philia or friendship. Affection, friendship and romantic love are each the training ground for charity to grow. Affection, friendship, and eros are classified as natural 116 loves, while charity receives a higher distinction in that it is.
We must not begin with mysticism, with the creatures love for god, or with the wonderful foretastes of the fruition of god vouchsafed to some in their earthly life. While the english language has a single word to describe the vast notion of love, greek divides love into four distinct types. Free download or read online the four loves pdf epub book. The content of the examination is prefaced by lewis admission that he initially mistook st. Lewis, right along with its fictional counterpart, till we have faces. Lewis november 29, 1898november 22, 1963 picks up where aristotle left off and examines the differences between the four main categories of intimate human bonds affection, the most basic and expressive. Eros, the passionate and sometimes destructive desire of lovers. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The four loves come from the greek who use four words to describe what we use. Lewis this study guide consists of approximately 35 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of the four loves. Lewis points out that it is easy to love the likeable. Lewiss philosophical and theological explanation of four types of love. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The first edition of the novel was published in 1960, and was written by c.