Introduction

Niklas Luhmann's Love as Passion explores the historical development of the semantics of love and its relationship to societal structures. Luhmann views love not merely as a feeling but as a culturally coded communication medium that evolves in response to societal changes, addressing tensions between personal and impersonal relationships in increasingly complex social environments.

Love is a societal mechanism akin to power, money, and truth, which facilitates unlikely communication by creating a framework for personal and emotional interaction. The code of love dictates how feelings are expressed and interpreted, making it a tool for navigating subjective and interpersonal dynamics. Love was once idealized and framed as irrational and profound. Over time, sexuality became integrated into the semantics of love, reflecting broader societal acceptance and evolving moral codes. Romanticism emphasized the unity of love and marriage, blending ideals of individuality and mutual recognition.

History

In the Middle Ages, love was idealized and detached from physical desire, aligning with aristocratic values. It emphasized unattainable perfection and sublimation. In the 17^th century, love became paradoxical, merging passion and sexuality. This period introduced the tension between rational ideals and emotional excess. In the 19^th century, love became self-referential, with marriage seen as a vehicle for individual self-realization. Love evolved to justify itself intrinsically, independent of external attributes like beauty or virtue. Romanticism introduced autonomy and mutual recognition as central tenets of love, reflecting the growing emphasis on individuality.

The differentiation between personal and impersonal relationships became more pronounced, creating both opportunities and challenges for intimacy. Modern love semantics changed from idealization and paradox to problem orientation, focusing on practical challenges and emotional complexities.

Society’s change from stratified roles (e.g., class-based identities) to functionally differentiated systems allowed greater individual autonomy and more diverse personal relationships. This transformation enabled broader access to love as a cultural and societal phenomenon, extending its relevance beyond elite classes.

Modern love

Modern love emphasizes mutual recognition of individuality within a shared relationship framework. This dynamic creates tensions between personal freedom and relational commitment, as partners navigate their unique identities while maintaining intimate bonds. The institutionalization of love (e.g., marriage) attempts to stabilize its inherently unstable dynamics, while the rise of divorce offers some corrective flexibility.

Interpenetration, negotiation and communication

Interpenetration refers to the mutual influence in intimate relationships, where each partner's actions become embedded in the other's experiential world. Unlike metaphors of merging or union, interpenetration emphasizes maintaining individuality within shared meaning-making.

Intimate relationships rely on the continuous negotiation of shared meaning and mutual acknowledgment of individuality. Love’s dynamics often involve paradoxes, such as balancing personal desires with relational expectations or navigating misinterpretations and conflicts.

Communication in love is inherently limited by its dual nature: Actions must express personal autonomy while simultaneously adapting to the partner’s needs. Transparency is unattainable, as complete understanding or mutual alignment is rarely possible.

The function of love

As society becomes more complex, love is increasingly tasked with validating personal identity and providing emotional connection. This overburdening of personal relationships reflects the growing demand for intimacy in an impersonal, systemic world.

Love in the media

Love as a medium evolved alongside broader societal transformations, such as the change from communal living to private intimacy. The invention of the printing press democratized access to cultural narratives, shaping perceptions of love and its practices. Literature, language, and social practices have historically provided frameworks for understanding and enacting love. These narratives evolve to address the changing demands of intimacy; they help individuals deal with complex personal and societal dynamics.

Modern love semantics

Modern love semantics are about dealing with practical challenges and resolving misunderstandings, rather than idealizing or paradoxical framing. This is a grounded approach to love, focusing on the continuous effort required to sustain intimate connections. Love serves as a mechanism for personal validation; it allows individuals to find coherence and meaning in their identities through relationships.

Source:

Luhmann, N. (1982), Liebe als Passion – Zur Codierung von Intimität, Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp.