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<p>Kierkegaard isn’t arguing for one to believe in God on a rational basis. He argues that we should just do it by taking a leap of faith. But I understand one’s reluctancy to believe in God. I don’t believe in God either. But I still sympathize with the assertion that love, a component of which is compassion or “care,” is irrational. </p>
<p>For months I invested my time, my sweat, and my sleep in caring for someone. Looking back, my decision to do so was clearly irrational. I wasn’t especially appreciated. I didn’t really get much of a return on my investment. But what made the experience worthwhile was the mirage, the illusion, that I was in something serious. Walking down the hallway together, bumping shoulders. Talking occasionally at lunch. The magnitude of the experiences definitely dwarfed anything I had experienced before. I acted irrationally by investing so much while subconsciously knowing that we weren’t likely to get anywhere. But do I regret it? No. The illusion was everything. The illusion is still everything. On this point I disagree with you that we shouldn’t take any risks at all; that we shouldn’t care about other people at all. Although my compassion may not have been reciprocated, I still revel in the memories. If one needs any evidence, one needs simply read any one of my recent essays. Additionally, what would life be without the peaks and troughs? The illusions and epiphanies :p?</p>
<p>Ultimately, Siriuss, it seems that we agree that love is irrational. Correct?</p>