Love and Essence: A Comparative Analysis of the Ideas of Plato and Abai

Abstract

This article explores the philosophical continuity and differences between Plato’s concept of love and Abai’s concept of love. Despite most researchers being familiar with love in Turkic Islamic thought, few recognize the continuity between Plato’s concept of love and Abai. Plato emphasizes that love reveals the cause of Being, affirming its truth and primacy. This aligns with the essence of Sufi love in Abai’s philosophy, where love for God is the foundation of all existence. Abai sees love as a realistic concept: each person shapes their own essence, while a general concept of essence defines the existence of all beings. In contrast, Plato views love as a singular conceptual term striving toward Abstract Beauty. Thus, we highlight not only the continuity but also key differences between Plato and Abai’s interpretations, reflected in the ontological stance of the former and the existential stance of the latter. It was concluded that for Abai, love characterize a personal experience requiring individual engagement, whereas for Plato, love is the meaning of existence. The research also reveals Abai’s understanding of God’s Being through love for humanity, offering a new interpretation of love in his philosophy.