Lovehasbeenthesubjectofmuchfascination.Itisindeedoneofthosethingswhicheludeusinmanyways.Thelong-lastingdisagreementoverlove’snatureisunsurprising.Inlightofthis,apiecemealapproachtoloveisinorder.Insteadofaskingwhatloveisdowntheline,wemightneedtoinvestigateitsvariousfeaturesanditsconnectiontootherthings.TheRationalityofLoveaddressesthequestionwhetherlovebelongs,paradoxicallyenough,totherealmofreason,whetherlovebelongstotheclassofresponses,suchasbeliefandaction,thatadmitofnormsofjustificationandrationality.Aretherenormativereasonstolovesomeone?Canitbeanappropriateorfittingresponsetoanindividual?Canitberational?Orislove,likeperceptualexperiences,sensationsandurges,thesortofthingwejusthaveandforwhichwecannotberationallycriticizable?HichemNaarprovidesasustaineddefenseoftherationalityoflove.Therearereasonstoloveothers,reasonsprovidedbytheuniquevalueofeachindividual.Thiswillinturnruleoutpopularaccountsoflovewhichdenylove’srationalityandvindicatethoseaccountsthatmakeroomforit.Drawingonvariousdomainsofphilosophicalinquirysuchasthephilosophyofmind,thephilosophyofnormativity,andepistemology,Naarprovidesacarefulassessmentofthevariouspositionsinthedebateoverreasonsforloveanddevelopshisownanswertothenormativequestionaboutlove.
