Love and Responsibility , written by Karol Wojtyła (the future Pope John Paul II) in 1960, is a foundational philosophical and theological treatise on the ethics of human love, sexuality, and relationships. Originally published in Polish, it serves as a philosophical "blueprint" for his later, more famous Theology of the Body .
: Attraction to the body or "sexual values". While natural, sensuality is "blind" to the whole person and can lead to objectification if not integrated. love and responsibility john paul ii pdf
: The highest form of love, where two persons commit themselves to one another as a mutual "gift of self". This level requires an act of the will , moving beyond fleeting emotions. The Role of Chastity and Responsibility Love and Responsibility , written by Karol Wojtyła
: Attraction to the person's psychological essence. While deeper than sensuality, sentimentality is prone to "idealization"—seeing an image of the person rather than the reality. While natural, sensuality is "blind" to the whole
: Authentic love requires affirming the personhood of the other. Wojtyła argues that because humans possess free will and reason, they cannot be used as mere objects of gratification. The Components of Love
Wojtyła breaks down love into three developmental stages that must be integrated to reach maturity: