Aristotle: The Other Half

In my Commitment book, Elizabeth does a lot of extensive reading about love and marriage and she introduces theories from various psychologists, sociologists, and philosophers.  She gives mention to Aristotle making the solid point that Aristotle has lead us to believe in the other half of our human body being out there somewhere for us to find.  This makes me think increasingly about love and it is always interesting to read about topics I am currently writing and theorizing about. 

Aristotle has caused others to believe in “our perfect half.” There is someone out there who can complete our being-metaphysically and physically.  I am just not sold on the idea that there is someone out their to complete our being because in an individualistic way-we should be able to survive on our own.   

For someone to complete our being, we are suggesting that this person is our perfect half.  Not everyone finds someone with the exact same interests, talents, and strengths.  It is just not realistic.  We can find someone who strongly resembles our being, but not an exact half. 

A person/significant other can take a piece of your heart or being.  I have experienced this first hand in Istanbul and feeling like a piece of me was left in Istanbul.  What an awful sense of loss and break down of female strength and independence.  I do not want to be a conformist or conventionalist, but I want to do things my way and this does not involve love to distract me from my potential and goals, but there is definitely something to be said about companionship.  Over many years the institution of marriage has evolved, but the need for companionship has stayed consistent .  Human beings have always needed to feel a sense of love whether from a friend of significant other.  In times when marriage was frowned upon or people were suppose to promiscuous-there is stil an element of companionship. 

What if this companionship is not about another half being love, but about a true companion. A priest, a guru, a spiritual advisor, counselor, or just your own self.  People are so focused on finding that special one that the attention is taken off their own selves.  I have friends who spend so much time dating and personal maintenance for upkeep of dating.  All this devoted time to the satisfaction of men can be devoted to learning a new language or pursuing a new hobby.   Is this possible to be just be alone? Or do we need to spend our lifetime looking for the one, the perfect half of us for the sake of Aristotle?