Intimacy

What the object of our affection is will dictate what the nature of our relationship with that person or object will be. The nature of the relationship will dictate the nature and limits of our expressions of affection or the degree and kind of union we can achieve.

Greater intimacy with food is to smell, taste then eat. Greater intimacy with one of our children might be to hug, kiss or rub their back. So the word intimacy to me simply means greater union.

We can therefore be intimate not only with people but with things. We can be intimate with food, cars, houses, books, etc. These acts of intimacy serve to satisfy the need for union. Affection therefore is our way of determining what we want to have union with. Affections are what indicate to us that an object or person we are perceiving will satisfy Eros; our need for union to some degree. A person’s field or activity that they have passion for is what they have affection for which triggers the most desire for union.