Falling in Love; With Other Essays on More Exact Branches of Science

"Falling in Love; With Other Essays on More Exact Branches of Science" by Grant Allen is a series of essays from the 1800s that examines diverse areas of science by concentrating on human feelings, particularly the concept of falling in love. Allen challenges the belief that love is simply a distraction from making logical choices in relationships; on the contrary, he proposes that love is a valuable evolutionary response that enhances human efficiency and the survival of human beings. The book begins by presenting the debate of whether love is a natural impulse or an artificial practice enforced by society, citing Sir George Campbell's ideas about partner selection in marriage. Allen playfully criticizes Campbell's view of love as a 'foolish idea', by discussing how love, combined with physical attraction, acts as an essential process for finding partners. The beginning lays the framework for a wide-ranging look at scientific topics, combining interesting thoughts regarding human emotions with serious biological ideas, and makes clear that love is a basic part of human relationships and evolution.