More than a feeling – thinking about love as a virtue can change how we respond to hate

Love and hate seem like obvious opposites – but for philosophers of virtue, it’s not so simple.

By: Tucker J. Gregor, University of Iowa, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: February 12, 2026

Words: 1,061

Last Updated: 1 month ago

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By Tucker J. Gregor, University of Iowa

Love and hate seem like obvious opposites. Love, whether romantic or otherwise, involves a sense of warmth and affection for others. Hate involves feelings of disdain. Love builds up, whereas hate destroys.

However, this description of love and hate treats them as merely emotions. As a religious ethicist, I am interested in the role love plays in our moral lives: how and why it can help us live …

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