Liebe und Ethik

While in ancient and medieaval philosophy, love was of central importance for the justification of morality, since the early modern period it has largely been pushed into the philosophical-ethical sidelines by Reason. The author examines the role and significance of love in the foundation of normative ethics. To this end she critically discusses the positions of Max Scheler and Robert Spaemann, who developed modern ethics of personal love and affection in the 20th century. She comes to the conclusion that there does exist a primal, alogical form of love, reflected by reason and yet anticipating all reflection. It is accompanied by a positive opening up of the sense of reality, and is able to give thought and volition an ultimate horizon which must be the point of departure for any serious ethical and not mere strategic reflection. German text.