Shaun Miller
ShaUn Miller, Ph.D.
Occupation: Independent Researcher in Philosophy
Location: Washington D.C., United States
The Sex In My Business: I research the philosophy of love, sex, and relationships.
A Typical Day: I usually wake up early and check my emails and other social media to catch up on sex-related news. Then I write for a couple of hours and try to squeeze in a workout before lunch. Afterward, I often switch between writing and reading, sometimes interspersed with collaborative work conducted through phone calls or emails on various projects — the typical life of an independent academic.
The Best Part: I get to write, contemplate, and discuss issues that I am passionate about. Since there is a growing public interest in sexuality and relationships, I enjoy discussing common concerns while offering my stances on various issues. People are amazed at how in-depth some of my answers to their questions are, but in reality, I still feel like I’m only scratching the surface. There is so much more to explore!
The Worst Part: Sex is not considered a serious topic in academic philosophy. Academics see it as either fringe or superficial, in contrast to the more “prestigious” subjects that have been debated for centuries. Many forget that it was Plato who first discussed love and sexuality, but in philosophy, the general attitude seems to be that the more abstract and analytical the subject, the better. Anything to do with bodies or particularities is seen as “not doing real philosophy” right now. Fortunately, there is a shift in this attitude currently underway, so I think the philosophy of sexuality will be seen as a more worthy field in the future.
How I Got Here: My journey here started when I was reading a book on the history of philosophy that addressed a particular philosopher’s theory of love. I hadn’t known that love could be thought about philosophically. Around the same time, I also happened to take a class on 20th century philosophy where we covered another thinker’s idea of sex. Unfortunately, the class didn’t delve further into that topic, but I was fascinated and intrigued that philosophers were thinking about sex as a serious subject. From then on, my research and writing have focused on love and sex.
What Society Thinks: When I initially mention my work, people tend to think I am a psychologist or that I offer sexual or relationship advice. When I describe some theories of love or sex, they usually begin to understand that what I do is different — that I approach the topic with more of a critical attitude toward various sexual assumptions and norms surrounding relationships. By thinking critically about these issues, I can envision new and liberating conceptions of sexuality or relationships. Sometimes my work can be a bit lonely because hardly anyone focuses on these topics, and it is challenging to bounce ideas off of others. Still, I am grateful to have encouraging colleagues who welcome my thoughts.
When I’m Not At Work: It is tough to say what I do when I’m not working, since I just got out of grad school and my whole life is consumed by it. But I like to stay active by running, swimming, and doing martial arts. I also like to travel and explore the depths of the city when I have the opportunity. In particular, I frequently try out new coffee shops — so much so that I have dedicated an Instagram page to my coffee adventures along with my research.
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Published in Issue VII: Sports
