Is love all we really need?

Nancy Folbre strongly believes that love and caring for others really can help you go along way. But altruism or selfless acts of kindness are not always guaranteed. She describes Adam Smith as making “a big mistake” by assuming that “emotions like altruism” are ”givens.” Indeed we do all have family values and want to believe that when we are helping our family members or friends we really are doing it out of the kindness of our hearts, but this is not always the case. When you help someone, whether you know them or not, most people think of karma. If I do something good for this person I will in turn be rewarded and receive something in return. Although we want to believe were only doing this kind act for the benefit of others, we usually are doing it for ourselves as well.

Folbre states that, “Loving and being loved are essential to a meaningful and happy life.” She describes a situation where her father worked for a company basically making money for those higher up. She describes going on hunting trips with her family, and her father’s boss. The boss was a very wealthy man but had a drinking problem. She discusses how despite her family only being from a middle class status they still lived a live of happiness and love because they shared it together. This is an example of the common statement “money can’t buy you happiness.” The boss might have had all that he could have imagined but ultimately, his drinking problem caused him heartbreak. While those living moderately at the middle class level experienced a lifetime full of happiness because they had others to share it with.

Personally, I believe that love is a big part of everybody’s life. Whether it’s love for your family, a significant other, or even for a favorite pet, love really does play a key role in keeping this world a better place. Ultimately, we all know we can’t survive on love alone, we need several other resources, but love is a major component. I believe as Folbre states that we all have choices, and if we are careful with our choices, we can really make a big effect in not only our lives, but the lives of others.

• The Invisible Heart by Nancy Folbre