Date of Award

2019

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Humanities

First Advisor

Michalson, Gordon

Area of Concentration

Philosophy

Abstract

This thesis traces the notions of “God” and “love” between the two philosophers Baruch Spinoza and Paul Tillich. In revisiting the infamous phrase that “God is Love” and relating it to philosophical discussions between both Spinoza and Tillich, a proposed suggestion for an ethical maxim or principle of life is detailed. It is a reconceptualization of love the following formulation: Love = Attachment = Attention + Appreciation + Acceptance. In thinking of the interconnectedness of everything, the oneness of everything, we can come to a conclusion on how this might affect one’s ethics towards themselves, the world, and others. The conclusion, or the ultimate goal, is to strive for love as much as possible within every given moment by giving attention, appreciation, and acceptance to all things. Love and self-actualization are found to be intertwined in light of the reasoning behind these philosophers.

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