Just some thoughts in reply to a discussion I had with my friend
Taneem, about loyalty and its connection to love (the discussion started with me talking about love in relation to a God and humanity or within humanity).
Loyalty is inherent to the concept love, but is not love.
Loyalty is an effect of love, but is not love. We can also use the term commitment.
So its an inherent effect, but is not the sole definer of love.
Essentially, i dont think its correct to state that love is or can be defined explicitly by loyalty.
People can be loyal to many things (nation, animals, ideologies, themselves, parents), but I don't think it would constitute being called "love" in all cases where loyalty is present. Love is more of an experiential concept than logical; one of those "things" difficult to encase in words.
The cause of love does not always stem from loyalty however, altho u may say it is the need for loyalty that drives people to love. Im not sure about that, but it may be motivation for some individuals, not all.
Do people love to gain someone's loyalty or to give their own to another person? Both cases happen and would depend on the individuals personality or needs. In the second case, loyalty is almost offered up as a gift, sometimes even unconditional to display the emotions the person holds within. In the first case, loyalty is the driving force behind the reason to find love. To find someone who will be loyal TO you.
We can look at another cause that is biological, however these reactions are not random, as love would occur without any reasonable connection that could be deductible by logic or pattern.
Which brings in the other likely reason that it is also stemmed in our intellectual interactions and is connected to the concept that we are self-aware.
We have the opportunity to experience love because of our awareness of self. Without that i don't think it would be possible.