The Philosophy of Love, Sex, and Relationships

Luke Brunning author Natasha McKeever author

Format:Hardback

Publisher:John Wiley and Sons Ltd

Published:7th Nov '25

Should be back in stock very soon

This hardback is available in another edition too:

The Philosophy of Love, Sex, and Relationships cover

Intimacy can be joyous, but also confusing and socially constrained. This book reveals how philosophy can deepen our understanding of how we date, fall in love, have sex, and form relationships.

Brunning and McKeever explore some of today’s significant questions around love and relationships, with a focus on underexplored topics and contemporary research. Should we stop talking in terms of sexual orientations? What are the responsibilities of dating app companies? Could flirting be a virtue? Might a drug produce authentic love? Must we take responsibility for who we find attractive? When is consensual sex bad? Should governments ban sex robots? Is relationship anarchy the future of intimacy?

Engagingly written, and rich with real-world examples, The Philosophy of Love, Sex, and Relationships is a crucial resource for students, researchers, and anyone who wants to join the growing conversation around the philosophy of intimacy.

"Luke Brunning and Natasha McKeever have written a book on intimacy, love, and sex that feels contemporary and relevant to students' lives while also being deeply anchored in current scholarship and debates. Avoiding clichés and antiquated assumptions about what relationships and intimacy look like in today's world, the authors offer rich philosophical tools for the rigorous exploration of some of the most personal and difficult-to-discuss topics we encounter in daily life."
Quill Rebecca Kukla, Professor of Philosophy at Georgetown University, and author of Sex Beyond 'Yes': Pleasure and Agency for Everyone

"Brunning and McKeever bring clear and insightful philosophical analysis to emerging topics such as asexuality and relationship anarchy, as well as to classic topics such as (morally) good sex and the nature of romantic love. Engaging, timely, and philosophically rich!"
Elizabeth Brake, Professor of Philosophy at University of Wisconsin-Madison

"A really helpful book! Brunning and McKeever cover a lot of ground, with a keen eye for how these crucial conversations have been changing in recent years. Their writing is clear and accessible. This will be a great resource for anyone looking to get up to speed in this area of philosophy."
Carrie Jenkins, Professor of Philosophy at University of British Columbia, and author of Sad Love: Romance and the Search for Meaning

ISBN: 9781509551491

Dimensions: 231mm x 155mm x 25mm

Weight: 499g

224 pages