You’ve Changed!

According to the Quality Theory, reasons to love are properties of the beloved. By contrast, according to the Relationship Theory, love is justified by features of a relationship with the beloved. Insofar as people’s lovable properties change all the time, the Quality Theory seems to offer an implausibly fickle account of love’s reasons. This article defends the Quality Theory. First, I argue the fittingness of love is not as resilient as the Relationship Theory implies. Second, I show how the Quality Theory can say it is fitting to continue loving someone despite radical changes to their properties.