Call for Papers Anthology: Philosophies of Love & Sex
Jan 27, 2013 → Jun 21, 2013
Philosophies of Love & Sex
Love and sex are among the most meaningful and ethically significant phenomena in our lives. For many of us, our longing for genuine love and satisfying sex are so great that they equal or surpass our desires to become educated, find meaningful work, procure wealth and find spiritual fulfillment. Yet love and sex— and our beliefs about both— seem to cause us at least as much suffering as joy, and at least as much regret as satisfaction. Love and sex also tend to bring out the best and the worst in people, yielding acts of incredible generosity and astonishing violence. In public life, shared beliefs about sexual appropriateness often unite a diverse population, while differing beliefs about love and sex inspire some of the most hateful rhetoric. Paradoxically, then, love and sex are both fundamental constituents of a good and happy life, and among the greatest causes of human wrongdoing and suffering.
Though popular cultural references to love and sex abound, most of us spend surprisingly little time reflecting on what they mean to us and what role we want them to play in our lives. Philosophical reflection on love and sex has the power to yield valuable insights about intersubjectivity, vulnerability and political praxis, to challenge conventional beliefs and to renew our sense of wonder before these incredibly important phenomena.
We are seeking essays that explore and illuminate the diverse meanings of love and sex. Themes of interest include but are not limited to: erotic intersubjectivity and reversibility, erotic embodiment, maternal/paternal/familial love, historical shifts in familial and sexual values, voluntary vs. involuntary love, the intertwining of love and friendship, love and loss, love across difference, queer love and sex, feminism vis-à-vis love and sex and conceptions of sexual perversion.
Perspectives from all philosophical traditions are welcome.
Guidelines for Contributions:
Please submit completed papers (approximately 8,000 words) or extended abstracts.
All submissions should include a 100 word abstract.
Papers should be in MS Word format.
Please submit materials as attachments to: LoveAnthology
Deadline: Saturday, June 1, 2013
Thank you for your interest.
Sarah LaChance Adams : slachanc@uwsuper.edu
Caroline Lundquist : clundqui@uoregon.edu
Christopher Davidson : cdavid01@villanova.edu