Fact: two cups of coffee before the consumption of a full meal is not necessary for comfort.
Lucretius’ notions of love threw me for loop today. I cannot wrap my head around the idea that “friends with benefits” would be the best course of action. I would never advise sleeping around when one already identifies themselves as in love with another. I am no psycho-therapist, but I am pretty sure having sex with one person while in love with or desiring another is psychologically detrimental and casual sex has proven to result in terrifying physical health (thank you promiscuous hippies). And further, anyone who has felt love or an intense desire for another, I think, would testify that sex with others does not dull that need. And this, the release of the need, is why Lucretius advises us to seek sexual fulfillment not with that person with whom we want it most.
Aside from physical disease and mental health issues that arise from casual intercourse, I simply do not want to sleep around. Perhaps this is a tainted lesson I have learned from my sick culture, but I want to love one person, in both senses that Lucretius utilizes the term, both the sexual desire and the emotional attachment. My desire to possess another wholly will not be quenched by taking others in my bed.
Regardless of what I want, I will attempt at least until next Monday to conceptualize love as harmful and weakening. I will make a valiant effort to, when I see the person of my desire, think of the harm that an emotional connection with said person would follow. I will envision myself as the starving child clasping in my hands a cheeseburger encased in glass. I will recite in repetition, as the Epicureans did, “I cannot wholly possess him. Sex with him will cause more anguish that pleasure. Sex with others…. not so bad.” Keeping this notion in mind, I might arrive at the end of the weekend with an appreciation for what Lucretius argues.
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