Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Interesting Headline Word Choice

The Associated Press (via Findlaw): French agape over treatment of jailed IMF chief

agape: /ˈæɡəpiː/ or /əˈɡɑːpeɪ/; Classical Greek: agápē; Modern Greek: αγάπη [aˈɣapi]) is one of the Greek words translated into English as love, one which became particularly appropriated in American Christian theology as the love of God or Christ for mankind. Many have thought that this word represents divine, unconditional, self-sacrificing, active, volitional, and thoughtful love. Although the word does not have specific religious connotation, the word has been used by a variety of contemporary and ancient sources, including Biblical authors and Christian authors. Thomas Jay Oord has defined agape as "an intentional response to promote well-being when responding to that which has generated ill-being."In his book, The Pilgrimage, author Paulo Coelho defines it as "the love that consumes," i.e., the highest and purest form of love, one that surpasses all other types of affection.[citation needed] Contemporary philosopher Slavoj Žižek refers to it as "political love".
Considering that IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn faces criminal sexual conduct charges, the headline was either unintentionally ironic or some headline editor is having a bit of homographic fun. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

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