Philosophy and Modern Love
Thursday December 5 at 9:00 pm - 11:00 pm GMT
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Relationships and intimacy are rarely out of the media. Articles discuss the merits of different relationship styles, tousle over the value of monogamy, lament the ‘loneliness crisis’, and take aim at dating apps. Pop-psychology draws on evolutionary ideas to tell us the new rules of love, or how to keep a partner. Rarely do commentators dwell on questions of value, or seek to unearth the assumptions framing our approach to intimacy.
In this friendly salon, Luke will approach these topics from the perspective of contemporary philosophy, loosely following the argument of his book Romantic Agency: living well in modern life, but looking beyond to the future of intimacy.
Together, we explore several themes, with space for discussion and reflection.
Discussion questions include:
- Can philosophy help us think about intimacy?
- What shapes our romantic selves and approach to intimacy?
- What is romantic agency, how is it nurtured?
- When, if ever, is monogamy moral?
- How can we take romantic risks, while remaining realistic?
- Should we try to be rid of hard feelings like jealousy?
- Is there a place for dating apps in looking for love?
- What is the future of intimacy?
Things to read:
- Romantic Agency by Luke Brunning (Luke discusses some of the ideas of the book here)
- Does Monogamy Work? by Luke Brunning
- Love without jealousy by Luke Brunning
- Relationship anarchy is about creating bonds that suit people, not social conventions by Luke Brunning
- What Love Is, and What it Can Be by Carrie Jenkins
- Why its OK to Not be Monogamous by Justin Clardy
- The End of Love by Eva Illouz (and the review here: https://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2023/02/14/the-end-of-love/)
