Existentialist Perspectives on Love: Lessons Learned from Nietzsche, Sartre, de Beauvoir, and Camus

In this chapter, the philosophies of love are explored with specific regard to existentialism. The chapter focuses on the ideas and thoughts of four selected existentialists, namely, Friedrich NietzscheFriedrich Nietzsche, Jean-Paul SartreJean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir,Simone de Beauvoir and Albert CamusAlbert Camus. ExistentialismExistentialism is crucial in love research since it focuses on the core aspects of human lifeLife and relationships and points out that love plays an important part in creating meaningMeaning and purpose in lifeLife. Here, ideas concerning love and relationships from four purposefully selected existentialists are presented. Methodologically, thematic analysis was applied to analyze primary and secondary texts from these four existentialists to understand love on a deeper level and to draw conclusions based on these philosophers regarding how to deal with love in contemporary society. Findings show that in the four existential philosophers’ writings, love is an important, although often ambiguous and fragmented concept. It is a core aspect of developing existential valuesValues in lifeLife, developing the self and transcending into new spheres of consciousness. LoveLove is further deepened and developed through self-loveSelf-love, as well as interpersonal relationships. Based on the lessons offered by the four philosophers, key aspects for contemporary love relationshipsLove relationships and society are presented for further reflection and learning.