Centre for Love, Sex, and Relationships

New textbook on the philosophy of love, sex and relationships anyone? 👇🏻💕📕

One of our wonderful new PhD researchers Kristin Käuper recently spoke at the University of Manchester's postgraduate philosophy conference, Open Minds XVIII!

Kristin's talk looked at how asexuality can help us create a better philosophical account of sexual orientation.

Well done Kristin! 🥳🙌

This is becoming a worrying trend as relationship advice is now marketised and monetised by big tech.

And difficult to foresee the longer term social impact of increased AI use in dating/relationships on how we trust, talk to, and relate to others.

@clsrleeds.bsky.social
@ethicaldating.bsky.social

The CLSR Reading Group is back! 📚
We kicked off the academic year with a great discussion on Kevin Richardson’s paper ‘“Just a Little Gay”: How Sexual Orientation Comes in Degrees’ (2023)

In case you missed it, here are all the speakers from our workshop last week. Each exploring the idea of intimate utopia in their own way. 👇🏻

Erinne Paisley and Luke Brunning talking.

Erinne Paisley discussed women’s shared hermenutic labour around online dating. @lukebrunning.bsky.social asked why dating apps failed in their promise to make our lives easier.

Nathan Barrett and Helena Ward talking.

Nathan Barrett considered the morality of sex-bot replicas of dead loved ones. Helena Lewis explored the ethical issues of using grief bots.

Max Lewis and Alex Fisher talking.

Sam Lewis asked whether it’s good for AI to write our heartfelt missives for us. @alex-fisher.bsky.social explored what we should disclose on dating apps.

Sagat Sogani and Jasmine Gunkel talking.

Sagat Sogani explored self-esteem and relationships, and Jasmine Gunkel grappled with pseudointimacy and AI.

Lucy Shanahan and Laurin Tirpitz talking.

The speakers in action at our MANCEPT workshop Intimate Utopias. Lucy Shanahan talking about consensual non-consent and Laurin Tirpitz discussing asexuality and sexual ethics.

A picture of the fancy bit of the University of Manchester.

It’s day one of our MANCEPT workshop on Intimate Utopias!

This afternoon we’ll be hearing about consensual non-consent from Lucy Shanahan, consent, sexual ethics, and liberation from Laurin Tirpitz, and about the links between intimate relationships and self-esteem in society from Sanat Sogani.

Only a few days to go until our Intimate Utopias workshop!

Excited for this fantastic event!

I'll talk about our moral obligations to disclose information about ourselves to potential partners on dating apps

Not disclosing that we secretly hate Bake Off - seems OK.

Not disclosing that we already have children, or criminal convictions - perhaps not so OK?

Important news, Berlin (and nearby) people! Please join me and the amazing Juliana Gleeson, hosted by the inimitable Ben Mauk, for a free discussion and book signing of "Sex Beyond 'Yes'" at Shakespeare & Sons, evening of September 12! And please share!
www.shakespeareandsons.com/pages/sex-be...

‘Are your dating apps encouraging sexual racism? I went up against the algorithm to find out’ When Serena Smith rejoined dating apps after a break-up, she got vanishingly few matches — that is, until she changed her race to ‘white’

Do dating apps perpetuate sexual racism? @nmckeever3.bsky.social and @lukebrunning.bsky.social contribute to this Cosmopolitan article exploring the issue www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/love-sex/...

We’re excited about our speakers and pleased to see so many PhDs and early career scholars exploring intimacy and relationships.

If you’re at MANCEPT for another workshop feel free to drop by for a talk or two.

The goal of the event was to bring together people considering the future of intimacy, from the ethical status of new intimate technology, like griefbots, through to new ways of thinking about established ideas, like consent.

One month to go until our MANCEPT workshop Intimate Utopias starts.

Where Are All The Eligible Men? Fresh out of a 13-year relationship, Zing Tsjeng scours the scene in search of answers...

@nmckeever3.bsky.social and @lukebrunning.bsky.social feature in this Vogue piece on modern dating.

www.vogue.co.uk/article/sing...

Two photographs of Ruby, one of her introducing out Philosophy Valentines event, the other of her holding Sappho, the cutest dog anyone has ever seen.

Huge thanks to Ruby Hornsby, whose time as our research assistant ends today. She’s been amazing!

Two photographs of Ruby, one of her introducing out Philosophy Valentines event, the other of her holding Sappho, the cutest dog anyone has ever seen.

Huge thanks to Ruby Hornsby, whose time as our research assistant ends today. She’s been amazing!

Also let us know what formats you find most helpful, and whether there is anything you’d like to know more about.

Screenshot of CLSR’s Instagram page

A screenshot of indicative content on CLSR’s Instagram page.

Just a reminder that we are on Instagram with some different content. Find us: @leeds_clsr

Submit your sexualisation and objectification abstracts by the 4th of August 👇🏻

Submit your sexualisation and objectification abstracts by the 4th of August 👇🏻

Great to see the Turkish edition of Romantic Agency in the flesh!

‘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

‘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

What lovely blurbs on my forthcoming textbook with @nmckeever3.bsky.social!

Feel free to suggest new people to add.

A reminder that @lukebrunning.bsky.social made a starter pack for people working on the philosophy of intimacy and relationships: go.bsky.app/AjUr2VS

Vogue magazine cover.

Natasha McKeever talking about attitudes towards marriage.

Luke Brunning on how wider social norms shape dating.

Lovely to see us get a mention in the current edition of Vogue! @nmckeever3.bsky.social and @lukebrunning.bsky.social gave comment on modern dating.