Robert A. Johnson’s concept of romantic love
The topic of love has been discussed in philosophy since the ancient times, and, as in other areas of philosophical deliberations, a common perspective on the matter has not yet been reached. Observing Western society, American Jungian analyst Robert A. Johnson reached a conclusion that ideas about love, which function in this society, are full of inner contradictions. The aim of this article is to present Johnson’s concept of romantic love, which fills in certain gaps in existing theories and offers a broadening of perspective on the problem of love. The article presents the analyst’s opinion regarding the genesis of the Western idea of romantic love, which goes back further than Romanticism. The causes of the mixed attitudes towards love in the West are also discussed. Finally, the article presents Johnson’s suggestion on solving this issue, based on Jungian analytical psychology.