Is Love a Purely Chemical Reaction?
Most recent answer: 10/22/2007
Q:
Is love a purely chemical reaction?
- Jason (age 7)
Glenside Weldon, Glenside, Pa, USA
- Jason (age 7)
Glenside Weldon, Glenside, Pa, USA
A:
Jason -
No, I don’t think so. There are certainly chemical elements involved in the physical attraction between two people (pheremones and hormones). But scientists are hard-pressed to find a physiological basis for any emotion, especially love. That’s not to say that the basis couldn’t be out there, but we’re no where close to figuring it out yet. So for the time being, this is more a question in the realm of philosophy than science - but I think you could ask anyone who’s ever been in love, and they’d probably agree that there’s something more to it than simple chemistry.
-Tamara
No, I don’t think so. There are certainly chemical elements involved in the physical attraction between two people (pheremones and hormones). But scientists are hard-pressed to find a physiological basis for any emotion, especially love. That’s not to say that the basis couldn’t be out there, but we’re no where close to figuring it out yet. So for the time being, this is more a question in the realm of philosophy than science - but I think you could ask anyone who’s ever been in love, and they’d probably agree that there’s something more to it than simple chemistry.
-Tamara
(published on 10/22/2007)