Expanding the Romantic Circle

Abstract

Our romantic lives are influenced, to a large extent, by our perceptions of physical attractivenessand the societal beauty standards that shape them. But what if we could free our desires from this fixation on looks? Science fiction writer Ted Chiang has explored this possibility in a fascinating short storyand scientific developments might, in the future, move it beyond the realm of fiction. In this paper, I lay out the prudential case for using "attraction-expanding technology," and then consider it from a moral point of view. Using the technology would, in one respect, be morally good: it would benefit those whom prevailing beauty standards marginalize. But attraction-expanding technology also raises a moral concernone that can be cast in non-harm-based and harm-based terms. I argue that the non-harm-based objection should be rejected, because it is incompatible with a moral principle central to queer rights. And the harm-based objection, I argue, is outweighed by the benefits of attraction-expanding technology, and undermined by the prerogative you have over your personal romantic choices. I conclude by considering whether, from the perspective of society, the development of attraction-expanding technology would be desirable.

Sexual identity or religious freedom: could conversion therapy ever be morally permissible in limited urgent situations?

“…On this ground, Delmas and Aas ( 2018 ) believe that CT is morally permissible for adults in a just world. Indeed, others go further and argue that any technological intervention that expands one’s romantic attractions might be morally permissible (Thau 2020 ).…”