问世间爱为何物?直教人生死相寻

"What is love" was the most searched phrase on Google in 2012, according to the company. In an attempt to get to the bottom of the question once and for all, the Guardian has gathered writers from the fields of science, literature, religion and philosophy to give their definition of the much-pondered word.
“爱为何物”成了2012年谷歌最热门的搜索短语，跟据该公司。为了一劳永逸地弄清问题的真相，《卫报》聚集了来自科学、文学、宗教和哲学各领域的作家来给出他们对这个被思虑良多的单词的定义。

The physicist: 'Love is chemistry'

Biologically, love is a powerful neurological condition like hunger or thirst, only more permanent. We talk about love being blind or unconditional, in the sense that we have no control over it. But then, that is not so surprising since love is basically chemistry. While lust is a temporary passionate sexual desire involving the increased release of chemicals such as testosterone and oestrogen, in true love, or attachment and bonding, the brain can release a whole set of chemicals: pheromones, dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin, oxytocin and vasopressin. However, from an evolutionary perspective, love can be viewed as a survival tool – a mechanism we have evolved to promote long-term relationships, mutual defence and parental support of children and to promote feelings of safety and security.
物理学家：“爱是化学反应”

生理上，爱情是一种像饥饿和干渴一样的强大神经反射，只是更持久。我们说爱情盲目或无缘由，在某种意义上我们无法控制它。但这并不令人惊讶既然爱情基本上是化学反应。虽然欲望是一种临时的激情的性渴望，涉及到在真爱或依赖关系中化学物质如睾丸激素和雌激素的释放增加，大脑会释放出一系列化学物质：信息素、多巴胺、去甲肾上腺素、血清素、催产素和垂体后叶加压素。然而，从进化的角度来看，爱情可被视为一种生存工具——我们已经形成的一种机制，为的是促进长期关系，共同防御和抚养孩子以及提升安全感。

The philosopher: 'Love is a passionate commitment'

The answer remains elusive in part because love is not one thing. Love for parents, partners, children, country, neighbour, God and so on all have different qualities. Each has its variants – blind, one-sided, tragic, steadfast, fickle, reciprocated, misguided, unconditional. At its best, however, all love is a kind a passionate commitment that we nurture and develop, even though it usually arrives in our lives unbidden. That's why it is more than just a powerful feeling. Without the commitment, it is mere infatuation. Without the passion, it is mere dedication. Without nurturing, even the best can wither and die.
哲学家：“爱情是充满激情的承诺”

某种程度上答案仍然是难以捉摸的因为爱不是一件事。爱父母、伴侣、孩子、国家、邻居、上帝等等都有不同的特质。每一个都有它的变体，盲目的、片面的、悲伤的、坚定的、变化无常的、有回应的、被误导的、无条件的。但是，它最好的是所有的爱都是一种我们培养和发展起来的充满激情的承诺，尽管它通常不由自主地来到我们的生活中。这就是为什么它不仅仅是一种强烈的感觉。没有承诺，它只是单纯的迷恋。没有激情，它只是纯粹的奉献。没有培养，即使是最好的爱情也会枯萎、死亡。