Question

Chapter One of A General Theory of Love is largely concerned with the prospects for a scientific account of love. The chapter considers some of the difficulties with giving scientific explanations of something like love, but also offers some reasons for hope, and some guidance for how to proceed.

For this assignment, you are charged with creating a dialogue between two characters, one of whom is skeptical about giving a scientific account of love, while the other is optimistic that it can be done. Your dialogue should show what you learned about this issue from Chapter One, but go beyond what is contained in that chapter; you should have something new to add. It’s a dialogue, so be creative, be entertaining, and make sure it reads like a dialogue.

Answer 1

Thomas: I don't understand this chapter at all. How can there be a scientific account for something called love? I thought science was all about the physical elements. From where did this come now?

Rick: I believe it makes perfect sense. Love is all around us. So why can t there be a scientific explanation for it?

Thomas: Okay. So you tell me how to describe the love, the attraction you have in scientific terms? What formulae are you gonna use? E=mc2 perhaps?

Rick: I don't know about any scientific formula for love but I can explain it scientifically.

Thomas: Sure, go on.

Rick: When you go for an adventurous sport or something you feel excited about, you immediately get an adrenaline rush, don't you?

Thomas: Well, yeah.

Rick: It's the same here. When you look at someone you are attracted to and get excited with the hopes of a future with him/her, you feel an adrenaline rush akin to the one you experience when going for an adventure. This sums up love scientifically for me.

Thomas: Yeah, I guess it does for me too.