About Me

I am an Associate Professor in Applied and Inter-Disciplinary Ethics at the IDEA Centre in the University of Leeds. My research interests lie in the philosophy of romantic life, ethics, and philosophy of emotion.

With Natasha McKeever, I run the Centre for Love, Sex, and Relationships. You can follow the centre on Bluesky and Instagram.

We also run the Ethical Dating Online research network, which you can follow on Bluesky and Instagram.

Previously, I worked at the University of Birmingham and the University of Oxford.

Research 

My current research explores the ethics of online dating. More generally, I explore different facets of intimate life. I have published articles about nonmonogamy, compersion, jealousy, and asexuality, a short trade book called Does Monogamy Work?.

In November 2025, my textbook The Philosophy of Love, Sex and Relationships: An Introduction was published by Polity (written with Natasha McKeever)

My book Romantic Agency was published in 2024 by Polity Press.

I have also published on envy, blame, social role ethics, striking healthcare workers, value pluralism, ideals of the integrated self, and the Buddhist doctrine of emptiness.

Other Writing

I have written popular philosophy pieces for Aeon, for The Conversation, have written on issues in higher education for the Independent and the Times Higher Education, and have reviewed books for a variety of publications including the Times Literary Supplement. 

Public work and commentary

I am a regular social commentator on topics related to my research, and have experience talking about the philosophy of intimacy with journalists and on television and radio.

My writing for popular audiences features in venues like the New Scientist, The Conversation, Aeon, the Times Literary Supplement, the Times Higher Education, and Independent. I have also provided 50+ pieces of commentary on the topic of dating app ethics to publications including: The Observer, The Guardian, BBC News, Financial Times, Le Monde (France), The Telegraph, Daily Mail, The Economist, The Atlantic, CNN, Les Echos (France), NRC (the Netherlands), New York Post, The London Standard, Metro, BBC In Depth, New Scientist, British Vogue, Huffington Post, Cosmopolitan, Prospect, Elle, Men’s Health, Times Higher Education, ABC Australia, Futur (France), Vice, Dazed, Vox, Pink News, Time Out London, Elle Australia, Prensa Libre (Guatemala), Mashable, Gooseberry Magazine, The Lead, and The Tab.

I have also appeared on BBC and ITV television, as well as on BBC 5 Live, LBC News Radion, Radio New Zealand, News Talk Radio Ireland, and BBC Leeds, as well as a range of podcasts.

Consultancy

I have experience providing academic advice and critical feedback in the creative industries, and have worked as an independent ethics advisor for a social technology company.