(e) Love of God
Finally, Fromm comes to love for God, the religious form of love. According to Fromm, the type of gods and the way in which they are loved or worshiped depends on the level of maturity that people have reached, which applies both at the level of society and at the level of the individual.
III. Love and its Disintegration in Contemporary Western Society
Fromm calls the general idea of love in contemporary Western society égoïsme à deux – a relationship in which each person is entirely focused on the other, to the detriment of other people around them. The current belief is that a couple should be a well-assorted team, sexually and functionally, working towards a common aim. This is in contrast with Fromm’s description of true erotic love and intimacy, which involves willful commitment directed toward a single unique individual. One cannot truly love another person if one does not love all of mankind including oneself.
IV. The Practice of Love
Fromm begins the last chapter, «The Practice of Love», by saying: «[…] many readers of this book, expect to be given prescriptions of ‘how to do it to yourself’ […]. I am afraid that anyone who approaches this last chapter in this spirit will be gravely disappointed». He says that in order to master the art of loving, one must practice discipline, concentration, and patience in every facet of one’s life.
Reception
The Art of Loving is Fromm’s best-selling work, having sold millions of copies. The Washington Post wrote that the book «had an enormous vogue on campuses during the 1960s and Dr. Fromm became something of a cult figure among large numbers of students at that time.» It also enhanced the perception of Fromm as a populariser, a writer who simplifies their work to appeal to a broader audience.
At the time of its release, it initiated criticism within leftist circles as not being emancipatory in nature.
