>>42910116Depends on how you wish to view these things, either through a Humanist or a Non Humanist viewpoint;
Through a Humanist viewpoint; Pokemon aren't capable of the same level of intelligence and sentience as Humans are; what we declare as affection is something different altogether, and the translation is blurred between the two differing species. Bonds can be formed; but as per actual emotive love; or genuine affection, this is most likely not true. This is the conservative viewpoint, that many Humans have about Animals in the Real World. That yes, you can form bonds with your animals; however your animals simply do not understand the concept of emotions, and of the friendships you would project unto them; thus it is impossible to claim "Love".
The Non Humanist viewpoint is simply removing the human mindset from the equation; and understanding that all Living things have some form of basic understanding of feeling, affection, comfort, fear, pain, etc. In this, does Love even exist? Love is a very Human term and understanding after all. There is such thing as kinship, affection, joy in another, willingness to protect and cherish within all mammals and birds. In Insects, Fish, and Reptiles/Amphibians, this is an outliar because the basis of concern rests solely from mother to offspring, and not even that at times.
The Merged viewpoint is applied in sense of Pokemon; they aren't exactly Human, but they all have basic understanding of the same concepts that Humans understand; however their understanding of affection is most likely different than yours. If you wish to call this love, then so be it. There are Pokemon who genuinely adore their trainers, and feel great loss without their presence, they would mourn the loss of the trainers to the point of severe depression and starvation. It is a curious thing, the relationships between Pokemon and Humans.
