Principles, Parenting & Purpose

What Is Love?

May 31, 2020

I hate rules—a rather ironic statement for a programmer, given that most programs consist of lists of rules. Yet, perhaps this gives me greater insight into the limitations of rules.

In his 2017 lecture series Maps of Meaning, Jordan B. Peterson says it brilliantly:

“The kind of knowledge that the conscience and the puppet \[Pinocchio\] are supposed to co-create is not something that you can articulate easily as a table of rules.”

“Life is too complicated to just have five rules that you live by and \[have\] that solve every problem. Partly, because the rules will conflict \[with each other\]. …that’s a huge part of the problem.”

In biblical terms, the Law—specifically, the Ten Commandments—is insufficient to guide the proper way of being.

So, if the Law is not enough—if the rules are not enough—what is?

Love.

So, what is love?

Love is the highest principle, serving as the most universal answer to all questions and the most comprehensive solution to all problems.