ŚLĄSKIE STUDIA HISTORYCZNO-TEOLOGICZNE

Love that Gives Life Meaning – a Juxtaposition of the Thoughts of Erich Fromm and Hans Urs von Balthasar
Among thinkers dealing with the subject of love, Erich Fromm and Hans Urs von Balthasar deserve special attention. Both, making love one of the most important issues in their scientific considerations, treat it as a solution to human difficulties and something that gives meaning to life. They make an in-depth analysis of society, people and the times in which they live and, as part of this reflection, present a multi-faceted approach to the issue of love. Their views, and in particular the differences in their perception of love, are also interesting due to their similar cultural and historical context (similar life years). The article, having regard to the different methodology used by the authors and a different perspective (psychological, philosophical or theological), shows the similarities and differences in their thoughts, and also shows that Hans Urs von Balthasar goes a step further than Erich Fromm, moving and analysing love on spaces unknown to the latter.