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Lovers of Philosophy
They were Europe’s greatest thinkers, but what were they like at love?
Lovers of Philosophy explores the love lives of seven philosophers, and how their most intimate experiences came to shape their ideas. In these pages, the reader learns about the significance of Kant’s infatuation, Hegel’s premarital liaisons, Nietzsche’s heartbreak, Heidegger’s hypocrisy, Sartre’s promiscuous polyamory, Foucault’s sexual liberation, and Derrida’s dalliances in extramarital desire.
The stories of these philosophers’ love lives are told against a backdrop of Europe undergoing tumultuous change. Beginning in the eighteenth-century Prussian Enlightenment, the book traverses the French Revolution, Napoleonic wars, Industrial Revolution, two World Wars, and events of May 1968 before arriving at the culture wars of the late twentieth century.
For anyone who has struggled to understand continental philosophy’s vast array of movements, from German idealism through to phenomenology, existentialism, post-structuralism, and deconstructionism, Lovers of Philosophy also provides the reader with an easy-to-follow overview of the progression of ideas from Kant to Derrida.
Lovers of Philosophy explores the love lives of seven philosophers, and how their most intimate experiences came to shape their ideas. In these pages, the reader learns about the significance of Kant’s infatuation, Hegel’s premarital liaisons, Nietzsche’s heartbreak, Heidegger’s hypocrisy, Sartre’s promiscuous polyamory, Foucault’s sexual liberation, and Derrida’s dalliances in extramarital desire.
The stories of these philosophers’ love lives are told against a backdrop of Europe undergoing tumultuous change. Beginning in the eighteenth-century Prussian Enlightenment, the book traverses the French Revolution, Napoleonic wars, Industrial Revolution, two World Wars, and events of May 1968 before arriving at the culture wars of the late twentieth century.
For anyone who has struggled to understand continental philosophy’s vast array of movements, from German idealism through to phenomenology, existentialism, post-structuralism, and deconstructionism, Lovers of Philosophy also provides the reader with an easy-to-follow overview of the progression of ideas from Kant to Derrida.
342 pages, Paperback
Published January 21, 2022
40 people are currently reading
912 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
October 4, 2024
What if we could tell the history of philosophy through the history of philosophers’ love lives? Like the rest of us, philosophers are humans, driven by their bodies and desires, not just their rational minds. By examining the unrequited love of Nietzsche for Lou Salomé, Sartre’s open relationship with Simone de Beauvoir, Heidegger’s affair with Hannah Arendt, and Foucault’s homosexuality, Warren Ward demonstrates how these personal relationships significantly influenced the philosophical ideas of these thinkers. This approach can help us understand the origins and fate of much of modern European philosophy, providing a new and enlightening perspective on these intellectual giants.
Source: https://iai.tv/articles/the-love-live...
Source: https://iai.tv/articles/the-love-live...
December 11, 2021
Whether you are a lover of philosophy, or you are interested in the love lives of philosophers, Warren Ward’s non-fiction, biographical account of seven of the world’s greatest philosophers, and the loves and lovers that inspired and sustained them, entitled Lovers of Philosophy (Ockham Publishing 2022), will inform, thrill and engage you with its sensual and well-researched exploration of ‘how the intimate lives of seven philosophers shaped modern thought’.
This book is such compelling reading that I could not put it down. Ward’s words read like a novel, with a through narrative that connects the stories of each featured philosopher and places their lives in the context of the times and the cultural and political circumstances in which they lived. Any concern that this topic might be dense or overly intellectual was quickly quashed by Ward’s lively and highly readable and accessible style, in which these real-life philosophers become characters in their own lives; characters we care about.
Ward is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry and his intense interest in the subject is both professional and personal. We are privy to both private and public details of his featured philosophers, including their families of origin and upbringing, their education, their impact on the world of higher thinking and, of course, their love lives and sexual liaisons and how these shaped their beliefs. Each chapter is divided into a number of shorter sections that focus on a particular topic or theme, and yet each chapter also seamlessly and chronologically flows from one to the next, with the result that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts, as we revel in this gift of philosophical ideas, debate, contention and theory; an esoteric and existential concept that is earthed by very human desires, impulses, sexuality and sensuality.
The introduction is comforting as Ward admits that even as a keen philosopher himself, he has been somewhat daunted by the ‘genius within’ the ‘difficult to decipher … philosophical discourse’. With this admission, we feel able to indulge our own vulnerabilities in approaching what could tend towards a rather complex subject. Ward has spent decades studying the lives of these philosophers, travelling to the places they lived and worked, researching their obsessions both romantic and otherwise, and yearning for a deeper understanding of the contribution they have each made to the world through philosophical debate. Fortunately for us, he has condensed this into an engaging and enjoyable read that covers several centuries and numerous theories as he attempts to view the larger questions through the perspective of personal desire, friendship, love and lust. He has ‘looked for connections between these philosophers’ experiences of intimacy and the way they came to see the world.’ Furthermore, ‘the overall structure of the book, exploring the lives and ideas of seven philosophers in chronological order, also provides the reader with an easy-to-follow overview of the progression of ideas in continental philosophy.’
Ward begins with Kant in the mid-1700’s: the significance of his life-long infatuation with the Countess, his rise from poverty to palace life, his many other romantic dalliances, his silent decade, and his contribution to the philosophical debate between science and religion. His published Critiques would contribute to his reputation as one of the world’s most renown, influential and celebrated philosophers.
Next is the German philosopher Hegel, ‘the first philosopher to place the study of history firmly within the province of philosophy’. Born in the late 1700’s, Hegel’s early life and philosophical investigations were influenced by the French Revolution and the many romantic desires (both requited and unrequited) of his life. With the approach of not only Napoleon but other more pressing, personal issues of racy affairs, an illegitimate child, penury, increasing fame and torn loyalties, Hegel’s misadventures, fickle entanglements and resultant tragedies (including a cholera pandemic) punctuated his publication of new philosophical thought.
The third philosopher under the microscope is Nietzsche, connected to Hegel through Marx. ‘Nietzsche was a complex and sensitive man whose outlook was at least partly coloured by his experiences of being repeatedly rejected in love.’ Born in 1844 into a series of childhood traumas, Nietzsche was eventually one of the youngest ever professorial appointments and lived through the Franco-Prussian War, several complicated love triangles, romantic rivalries, syphilis, a stint in an asylum and a doubtful connection with Nazism.
Heidegger, the first of the existentialists, was born into the century of two major world wars and a swathe of technological and industrial advances. Once again, this philosopher’s romantic entanglements would shape and influence the way he thought and wrote. Despite (or perhaps because of) his marriage, an erotic student affair, a more mature liaison, other flings and then news of his own wife’s infidelity, Heidegger continued to contribute to philosophical debate throughout the rise of Adolf Hitler and all the accompanying horror, until his death in 1976. Ward interviewed Heidegger’s 92-year-old son in 2013, an original source which adds much to this chapter.
Another philosopher caught up in World War Two and anti-Semite feeling was Sartre, who fought in the French Resistance against the Nazi occupation of his country. With the seemingly common recurring theme of childhood trauma and misadventure, Sartre’s voracious early reading and later rebelliousness, combined with his sexual voyage of discovery, led to perhaps one of the greatest romantic liaisons between soulmates – Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir, ‘his lover, favourite companion, and intellectual partner’. Beauvoir, herself a philosopher of equal fame, was the inspiration for Ward’s first literary explorations into the potent combination of love and philosophy and is given appropriate and significant space in this book. Her own sexual adventures (with women and men), her writing (full of ‘racy … seduction, jealousy and intrigue’ and her stand on feminism make this a particularly fascinating chapter. For Sartre, a string of simultaneous affairs, drug-taking and fame led up to his death in 1980, with 50 000 people attending his funeral.
The philosopher Foucault attended Sartre’s funeral precisely to prove the point that he disagreed with so much of what Sartre represented. Diagnosed early with ‘homosexuality’, then treated as a medical and mental illness, Foucault’s sexual explorations led him to write extensively about sexuality – it being one of the deviant or rebellious qualities treated as various forms of madness by the establishment – and the description of him facing the board to defend his thesis is one of the most compelling and interesting passages in the book. His long-term relationship with his companion and lover Defert also contributes to his rich and controversial life of protests in solidarity with students, social activism and rebellion. The sixties were a heady time, and led to a surprising invitation for Foucault to head up a university unlike any other educational institution. His subsequent passionate advocacy for maligned groups, such as prisoners, and gay and lesbian people, dovetailed with his earlier writings on the treatment of any difference as ‘madness’. The 1980’s AIDS crisis did perhaps predictably not turn out well for Foucault.
The book’s final philosopher, Derrida, again began life with a fractured identity and trauma. With his life marred by cultural confusion, the sentiments of war, rootlessness and despair, Derrida’s revolutionary thinking and writing was fuelled by a ‘multitude of lovers’ and extramarital affairs. One extraordinary young woman who would come to define much of his philosophical and romantic conflict caused him to test his convictions regarding the sanctity and responsibility of life and family. A controversial documentary about his life aired in 2002 when he was 72.
On speaking about this, Derrida made a comment about being interested in the conversations the great philosophers might have had about their own sex lives and love interests, and this brings this book neatly to full circle, because although Ward did not stumble across that comment until almost the end of his research, it is indeed exactly what he himself had been attempting to do for so many years. And with a quite beautiful evocative depiction of a recent trip with his daughter to the school in Paris where so many of these great philosophers studied, Ward completes this curious, informative, satisfying and entertaining treatise on seven of the most well-known philosophers and the people they loved.
This book is such compelling reading that I could not put it down. Ward’s words read like a novel, with a through narrative that connects the stories of each featured philosopher and places their lives in the context of the times and the cultural and political circumstances in which they lived. Any concern that this topic might be dense or overly intellectual was quickly quashed by Ward’s lively and highly readable and accessible style, in which these real-life philosophers become characters in their own lives; characters we care about.
Ward is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry and his intense interest in the subject is both professional and personal. We are privy to both private and public details of his featured philosophers, including their families of origin and upbringing, their education, their impact on the world of higher thinking and, of course, their love lives and sexual liaisons and how these shaped their beliefs. Each chapter is divided into a number of shorter sections that focus on a particular topic or theme, and yet each chapter also seamlessly and chronologically flows from one to the next, with the result that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts, as we revel in this gift of philosophical ideas, debate, contention and theory; an esoteric and existential concept that is earthed by very human desires, impulses, sexuality and sensuality.
The introduction is comforting as Ward admits that even as a keen philosopher himself, he has been somewhat daunted by the ‘genius within’ the ‘difficult to decipher … philosophical discourse’. With this admission, we feel able to indulge our own vulnerabilities in approaching what could tend towards a rather complex subject. Ward has spent decades studying the lives of these philosophers, travelling to the places they lived and worked, researching their obsessions both romantic and otherwise, and yearning for a deeper understanding of the contribution they have each made to the world through philosophical debate. Fortunately for us, he has condensed this into an engaging and enjoyable read that covers several centuries and numerous theories as he attempts to view the larger questions through the perspective of personal desire, friendship, love and lust. He has ‘looked for connections between these philosophers’ experiences of intimacy and the way they came to see the world.’ Furthermore, ‘the overall structure of the book, exploring the lives and ideas of seven philosophers in chronological order, also provides the reader with an easy-to-follow overview of the progression of ideas in continental philosophy.’
Ward begins with Kant in the mid-1700’s: the significance of his life-long infatuation with the Countess, his rise from poverty to palace life, his many other romantic dalliances, his silent decade, and his contribution to the philosophical debate between science and religion. His published Critiques would contribute to his reputation as one of the world’s most renown, influential and celebrated philosophers.
Next is the German philosopher Hegel, ‘the first philosopher to place the study of history firmly within the province of philosophy’. Born in the late 1700’s, Hegel’s early life and philosophical investigations were influenced by the French Revolution and the many romantic desires (both requited and unrequited) of his life. With the approach of not only Napoleon but other more pressing, personal issues of racy affairs, an illegitimate child, penury, increasing fame and torn loyalties, Hegel’s misadventures, fickle entanglements and resultant tragedies (including a cholera pandemic) punctuated his publication of new philosophical thought.
The third philosopher under the microscope is Nietzsche, connected to Hegel through Marx. ‘Nietzsche was a complex and sensitive man whose outlook was at least partly coloured by his experiences of being repeatedly rejected in love.’ Born in 1844 into a series of childhood traumas, Nietzsche was eventually one of the youngest ever professorial appointments and lived through the Franco-Prussian War, several complicated love triangles, romantic rivalries, syphilis, a stint in an asylum and a doubtful connection with Nazism.
Heidegger, the first of the existentialists, was born into the century of two major world wars and a swathe of technological and industrial advances. Once again, this philosopher’s romantic entanglements would shape and influence the way he thought and wrote. Despite (or perhaps because of) his marriage, an erotic student affair, a more mature liaison, other flings and then news of his own wife’s infidelity, Heidegger continued to contribute to philosophical debate throughout the rise of Adolf Hitler and all the accompanying horror, until his death in 1976. Ward interviewed Heidegger’s 92-year-old son in 2013, an original source which adds much to this chapter.
Another philosopher caught up in World War Two and anti-Semite feeling was Sartre, who fought in the French Resistance against the Nazi occupation of his country. With the seemingly common recurring theme of childhood trauma and misadventure, Sartre’s voracious early reading and later rebelliousness, combined with his sexual voyage of discovery, led to perhaps one of the greatest romantic liaisons between soulmates – Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir, ‘his lover, favourite companion, and intellectual partner’. Beauvoir, herself a philosopher of equal fame, was the inspiration for Ward’s first literary explorations into the potent combination of love and philosophy and is given appropriate and significant space in this book. Her own sexual adventures (with women and men), her writing (full of ‘racy … seduction, jealousy and intrigue’ and her stand on feminism make this a particularly fascinating chapter. For Sartre, a string of simultaneous affairs, drug-taking and fame led up to his death in 1980, with 50 000 people attending his funeral.
The philosopher Foucault attended Sartre’s funeral precisely to prove the point that he disagreed with so much of what Sartre represented. Diagnosed early with ‘homosexuality’, then treated as a medical and mental illness, Foucault’s sexual explorations led him to write extensively about sexuality – it being one of the deviant or rebellious qualities treated as various forms of madness by the establishment – and the description of him facing the board to defend his thesis is one of the most compelling and interesting passages in the book. His long-term relationship with his companion and lover Defert also contributes to his rich and controversial life of protests in solidarity with students, social activism and rebellion. The sixties were a heady time, and led to a surprising invitation for Foucault to head up a university unlike any other educational institution. His subsequent passionate advocacy for maligned groups, such as prisoners, and gay and lesbian people, dovetailed with his earlier writings on the treatment of any difference as ‘madness’. The 1980’s AIDS crisis did perhaps predictably not turn out well for Foucault.
The book’s final philosopher, Derrida, again began life with a fractured identity and trauma. With his life marred by cultural confusion, the sentiments of war, rootlessness and despair, Derrida’s revolutionary thinking and writing was fuelled by a ‘multitude of lovers’ and extramarital affairs. One extraordinary young woman who would come to define much of his philosophical and romantic conflict caused him to test his convictions regarding the sanctity and responsibility of life and family. A controversial documentary about his life aired in 2002 when he was 72.
On speaking about this, Derrida made a comment about being interested in the conversations the great philosophers might have had about their own sex lives and love interests, and this brings this book neatly to full circle, because although Ward did not stumble across that comment until almost the end of his research, it is indeed exactly what he himself had been attempting to do for so many years. And with a quite beautiful evocative depiction of a recent trip with his daughter to the school in Paris where so many of these great philosophers studied, Ward completes this curious, informative, satisfying and entertaining treatise on seven of the most well-known philosophers and the people they loved.
September 10, 2025
My first non-fiction of the year was great.
Lovers of Philosophy goes through the detailed account of these seven philosophers' personal and intimate lives and how these had a major effect on their thought and Philosophy.
In this non-fiction work (which reads very much like a story or a novel sometimes thanks to @warrenkward s thrilling and engaging writing style) we get to learn about the upbringing of these great thinkers and how the context of their intimate lives found its way into their philosophical works. There are 7 chapters that are like 7 mini bios which are narrated in a way that connects each philosopher/movement to the next and how one influenced or is reflected in the other.
I read a chapter a day and for an entire week, I've spent the whole day waiting for the time to pick it up each evening.
Wether you're just beginning to explore the realm of Philosophy or you're a philosopher yourself haha, you will undoubtedly enjoy and gain some interesting insights from this read thanks to the fresh perspective and compelling narrative this book provides.
Lovers of Philosophy goes through the detailed account of these seven philosophers' personal and intimate lives and how these had a major effect on their thought and Philosophy.
In this non-fiction work (which reads very much like a story or a novel sometimes thanks to @warrenkward s thrilling and engaging writing style) we get to learn about the upbringing of these great thinkers and how the context of their intimate lives found its way into their philosophical works. There are 7 chapters that are like 7 mini bios which are narrated in a way that connects each philosopher/movement to the next and how one influenced or is reflected in the other.
I read a chapter a day and for an entire week, I've spent the whole day waiting for the time to pick it up each evening.
Wether you're just beginning to explore the realm of Philosophy or you're a philosopher yourself haha, you will undoubtedly enjoy and gain some interesting insights from this read thanks to the fresh perspective and compelling narrative this book provides.
May 17, 2022
A lovely read about the complicated lives of influential thinkers. Having studied the works of all these philosophers, the book casts a light on the personal and social context of these 7 philosophers which gave me a new appreciation of their work. Even if you’re not familiar these philosophers, Ward effortlessly threads a narrative about love, lovers, loss and ideas across 2 centuries. Highly recommend it if you enjoy memoirs, history, philosophy and psychology.
April 2, 2023
Lovers of Philosophy' by Warren Ward is an engaging book that explores the history of philosophy through the lives and works of some of its greatest thinkers by taking a unique approach to presenting philosophical ideas, focusing not just on the concepts themselves but on the people who developed them and the personal and social contexts in which they emerged.
In the course of his writing, We are privy to both private and public details of his featured philosophers, including their families of origin and upbringing, their education, their impact on the world of higher thinking and, of course, their love lives and sexual liaisons and how these shaped their beliefs.
Each chapter is divided into a number of shorter sections that focus on a particular topic or theme, and yet each chapter also seamlessly and chronologically flows from one to the next, with the result that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts, as we revel in this gift of philosophical ideas, debate, contention and theory; an esoteric and existential concept that is earthed by very human desires, impulses, sexuality and sensuality.
Ward, an Associate Professor of Psychiatry and a philosopher, attempts to psychoanalyze these philosophers as he has been somewhat daunted by the ‘genius within’ the ‘difficult to decipher … philosophical discourse���.
Ward begins with Kant in the mid-1700’s: the significance of his life-long infatuation with the Countess, his rise from poverty to palace life, his many other romantic dalliances, his academic crisis, David Hume's influence on him and his contribution to the philosophical debate between science and religion.
Next is the German philosopher Hegel, ‘the first philosopher to place the study of history firmly within the province of philosophy’: from his personal issues of racy affairs, an illegitimate child, penury, increasing fame and torn loyalties, Hegel’s misadventures, fickle entanglements and resultant tragedies (including a cholera pandemic) punctuated his publication of new philosophical thought.
The third philosopher to be analyzed is the great Nietzsche, connected to Hegel through Marx.
‘Nietzsche was a complex and sensitive man whose outlook was at least partly coloured by his experiences of being repeatedly rejected in love.’
Born in 1844 into a series of childhood traumas, Nietzsche was eventually one of the youngest ever professorial appointments and lived through the Franco-Prussian War, several complicated love triangles, romantic rivalries and rejections which the most important is that of Salome, syphilis, a stint in an asylum and a doubtful connection with Nazism.
After Nietzsche is Heidegger. Once again, this philosopher’s romantic entanglements would shape and influence the way he thought and wrote. Despite (or perhaps because of) his marriage, an erotic student affair, a more mature liaison, other flings and then news of his own wife’s infidelity, Heidegger continued to contribute to philosophical debate throughout the rise of Adolf Hitler and all the accompanying horror, until his death in 1976.
Ward interviewed Heidegger’s 92-year-old son in 2013, an original source which adds much to this chapter.
A particularly interesting history was that between Jean Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir.
Sartre, who fought in the French Resistance against the Nazi occupation of his country. With the seemingly common recurring theme of childhood trauma and misadventure, Sartre’s voracious early reading and later rebelliousness, combined with his sexual voyage of discovery, led to perhaps one of the greatest romantic liaisons between soulmates – Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir, ‘his lover, favourite companion, and intellectual partner’.
Beauvoir, herself a philosopher of equal fame, was the inspiration for Ward’s first literary explorations into the potent combination of love and philosophy and is given appropriate and significant space in this book.
Her own sexual adventures (with women and men), her writing (full of ‘racy … seduction, jealousy and intrigue’ and her stand on feminism make this a particularly fascinating chapter. For Sartre, a string of simultaneous affairs, drug-taking and fame led up to his death in 1980, with 50 000 people attending his funeral.
After the romantic and philosophical entanglement between Satre and Beauvoir is the story of Focault, one of the many philosophers who attended Sartre’s funeral.
Diagnosed early with ‘homosexuality’, then treated as a medical and mental illness, Foucault’s sexual explorations led him to write extensively about sexuality – it being one of the deviant or rebellious qualities treated as various forms of madness by the establishment – and the description of him facing the board to defend his thesis is one of the most compelling and interesting passages in the book.
His long-term relationship with his companion and lover Defert also contributes to his rich and controversial life of protests in solidarity with students, social activism and rebellion.
The sixties were a heady time, and led to a surprising invitation for Foucault to head up a university unlike any other educational institution.
His subsequent passionate advocacy for maligned groups, such as prisoners, and gay and lesbian people, dovetailed with his earlier writings on the treatment of any difference as ‘madness’. The 1980’s AIDS crisis did perhaps predictably not turn out well for Foucault.
The last but not the least being Derrida. Who, again began life with a fractured identity and trauma.
With his life marred by cultural confusion, the sentiments of war, rootlessness and despair, Derrida’s revolutionary thinking and writing was fuelled by a ‘multitude of lovers’ and extramarital affairs.
One extraordinary young woman who would come to define much of his philosophical and romantic conflict caused him to test his convictions regarding the sanctity and responsibility of life and family. A controversial documentary about his life aired in 2002 when he was 72.
One of the strengths of Ward's approach is that it humanizes the philosophers, making their ideas more relatable and understandable.
By discussing their personal lives, struggles, and influences, he gives readers a sense of the real people behind the theories and concepts they are studying.
This makes the book particularly engaging for readers who are new to philosophy or who may find some of the abstract ideas and language of the discipline daunting.
At the same time, Ward is careful not to simplify or distort the philosophers' ideas. He presents their arguments and theories clearly and concisely, often using examples and analogies to make them more accessible. His writing style is engaging and conversational, and he strikes a good balance between being informative and being entertaining.
Another strength of the book is its breadth. By covering such a wide range of philosophers and ideas, Ward provides a comprehensive overview of the history of philosophy. This makes the book a useful resource for students and teachers of philosophy, as well as for anyone interested in the subject.
Overall, "Lovers of Philosophy" is a well-written and insightful book that offers a unique and engaging approach to the study of philosophy.
Ward's focus on the personal and social context of philosophical ideas makes the book both informative and entertaining, and his breadth of knowledge and clear writing style make it a valuable resource for readers at all levels.
I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in philosophy or the history of ideas.
In the course of his writing, We are privy to both private and public details of his featured philosophers, including their families of origin and upbringing, their education, their impact on the world of higher thinking and, of course, their love lives and sexual liaisons and how these shaped their beliefs.
Each chapter is divided into a number of shorter sections that focus on a particular topic or theme, and yet each chapter also seamlessly and chronologically flows from one to the next, with the result that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts, as we revel in this gift of philosophical ideas, debate, contention and theory; an esoteric and existential concept that is earthed by very human desires, impulses, sexuality and sensuality.
Ward, an Associate Professor of Psychiatry and a philosopher, attempts to psychoanalyze these philosophers as he has been somewhat daunted by the ‘genius within’ the ‘difficult to decipher … philosophical discourse���.
Ward begins with Kant in the mid-1700’s: the significance of his life-long infatuation with the Countess, his rise from poverty to palace life, his many other romantic dalliances, his academic crisis, David Hume's influence on him and his contribution to the philosophical debate between science and religion.
Next is the German philosopher Hegel, ‘the first philosopher to place the study of history firmly within the province of philosophy’: from his personal issues of racy affairs, an illegitimate child, penury, increasing fame and torn loyalties, Hegel’s misadventures, fickle entanglements and resultant tragedies (including a cholera pandemic) punctuated his publication of new philosophical thought.
The third philosopher to be analyzed is the great Nietzsche, connected to Hegel through Marx.
‘Nietzsche was a complex and sensitive man whose outlook was at least partly coloured by his experiences of being repeatedly rejected in love.’
Born in 1844 into a series of childhood traumas, Nietzsche was eventually one of the youngest ever professorial appointments and lived through the Franco-Prussian War, several complicated love triangles, romantic rivalries and rejections which the most important is that of Salome, syphilis, a stint in an asylum and a doubtful connection with Nazism.
After Nietzsche is Heidegger. Once again, this philosopher’s romantic entanglements would shape and influence the way he thought and wrote. Despite (or perhaps because of) his marriage, an erotic student affair, a more mature liaison, other flings and then news of his own wife’s infidelity, Heidegger continued to contribute to philosophical debate throughout the rise of Adolf Hitler and all the accompanying horror, until his death in 1976.
Ward interviewed Heidegger’s 92-year-old son in 2013, an original source which adds much to this chapter.
A particularly interesting history was that between Jean Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir.
Sartre, who fought in the French Resistance against the Nazi occupation of his country. With the seemingly common recurring theme of childhood trauma and misadventure, Sartre’s voracious early reading and later rebelliousness, combined with his sexual voyage of discovery, led to perhaps one of the greatest romantic liaisons between soulmates – Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir, ‘his lover, favourite companion, and intellectual partner’.
Beauvoir, herself a philosopher of equal fame, was the inspiration for Ward’s first literary explorations into the potent combination of love and philosophy and is given appropriate and significant space in this book.
Her own sexual adventures (with women and men), her writing (full of ‘racy … seduction, jealousy and intrigue’ and her stand on feminism make this a particularly fascinating chapter. For Sartre, a string of simultaneous affairs, drug-taking and fame led up to his death in 1980, with 50 000 people attending his funeral.
After the romantic and philosophical entanglement between Satre and Beauvoir is the story of Focault, one of the many philosophers who attended Sartre’s funeral.
Diagnosed early with ‘homosexuality’, then treated as a medical and mental illness, Foucault’s sexual explorations led him to write extensively about sexuality – it being one of the deviant or rebellious qualities treated as various forms of madness by the establishment – and the description of him facing the board to defend his thesis is one of the most compelling and interesting passages in the book.
His long-term relationship with his companion and lover Defert also contributes to his rich and controversial life of protests in solidarity with students, social activism and rebellion.
The sixties were a heady time, and led to a surprising invitation for Foucault to head up a university unlike any other educational institution.
His subsequent passionate advocacy for maligned groups, such as prisoners, and gay and lesbian people, dovetailed with his earlier writings on the treatment of any difference as ‘madness’. The 1980’s AIDS crisis did perhaps predictably not turn out well for Foucault.
The last but not the least being Derrida. Who, again began life with a fractured identity and trauma.
With his life marred by cultural confusion, the sentiments of war, rootlessness and despair, Derrida’s revolutionary thinking and writing was fuelled by a ‘multitude of lovers’ and extramarital affairs.
One extraordinary young woman who would come to define much of his philosophical and romantic conflict caused him to test his convictions regarding the sanctity and responsibility of life and family. A controversial documentary about his life aired in 2002 when he was 72.
One of the strengths of Ward's approach is that it humanizes the philosophers, making their ideas more relatable and understandable.
By discussing their personal lives, struggles, and influences, he gives readers a sense of the real people behind the theories and concepts they are studying.
This makes the book particularly engaging for readers who are new to philosophy or who may find some of the abstract ideas and language of the discipline daunting.
At the same time, Ward is careful not to simplify or distort the philosophers' ideas. He presents their arguments and theories clearly and concisely, often using examples and analogies to make them more accessible. His writing style is engaging and conversational, and he strikes a good balance between being informative and being entertaining.
Another strength of the book is its breadth. By covering such a wide range of philosophers and ideas, Ward provides a comprehensive overview of the history of philosophy. This makes the book a useful resource for students and teachers of philosophy, as well as for anyone interested in the subject.
Overall, "Lovers of Philosophy" is a well-written and insightful book that offers a unique and engaging approach to the study of philosophy.
Ward's focus on the personal and social context of philosophical ideas makes the book both informative and entertaining, and his breadth of knowledge and clear writing style make it a valuable resource for readers at all levels.
I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in philosophy or the history of ideas.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 15, 2025
An incredible overview of seven philosophers told in an engaging format in the spirit of At the Existentialist Cafe by Sarah Bakewell (My favorite book of the last 10 years).
My only issue would be there isn’t as much deep philosophy explained so eloquently as Bakewell did it. And I think Ward could have easily put much more spotlight on women philosophers and thinkers.
I love that Derrida and Foucault were included in this as I had kind of forgotten about them and had no idea what a rollercoaster their personal lives were. But my absolute favorites had to be Nietzche, Heidegger/Hannah Arendt and Sartre/Beauvoir, as their lives have been fascinating me to the point of near obsession the last 5 years. Fantastic
My only issue would be there isn’t as much deep philosophy explained so eloquently as Bakewell did it. And I think Ward could have easily put much more spotlight on women philosophers and thinkers.
I love that Derrida and Foucault were included in this as I had kind of forgotten about them and had no idea what a rollercoaster their personal lives were. But my absolute favorites had to be Nietzche, Heidegger/Hannah Arendt and Sartre/Beauvoir, as their lives have been fascinating me to the point of near obsession the last 5 years. Fantastic
June 28, 2022
I don’t think this book gave me a deeper understanding of the works of these philosophers… but it sure was fun to read!
March 4, 2023
This book was everything I could've wanted it to be. Entertaining yet informative with relation to both love and philosophy, it was an extremely enjoyable read. 10/10.
April 28, 2022
An absolute joy to read! Ward makes complex ideas clear and accessible without compromising them, and the 'gossipy'/biographical parts of the book are great fun.
August 21, 2022
This book presents a personal portrait of the seven philosophers and the way their lives shaped each of their philosophical ideas. Warren Ward distills each of the philosophies so that it is understandable for the novice in philosophy (me). A very enjoyable read and Warren nests it nicely between two experiences for himself. I recommend this as a great introduction to continental philosophy.
April 30, 2024
Warren Ward's Lovers of Philosophy takes a fresh approach to philosophy, delving into the love lives of seven influential philosophers and exploring how their romantic entanglements shaped their groundbreaking ideas. It's a fascinating premise, making philosophy surprisingly accessible for even the most casual reader.
Ward argues that love wasn't just a backdrop for these thinkers' lives; it was woven into the very fabric of their philosophies. We encounter Kant's pining for a married woman, allegedly influencing his views on duty and reason. Hegel's premarital affair, Ward suggests, informed his ideas on freedom and the master-slave dialectic. The book goes on to explore the heartbreak of Nietzsche, the hypocrisy of Heidegger, and the unconventional relationships of Sartre, Foucault, and Derrida.
Ward's writing is engaging and lively. He avoids dry academic jargon, instead opting for a conversational style that feels like you're listening to a friend tell a captivating story. Each chapter focuses on one philosopher, providing a biographical sketch before diving into their love life and its philosophical impact. This structure keeps things organised and easy to follow, though I did hope for a bit more analysis that delved deeper into the specific connections between love and philosophy.
Ward's obvious understanding of philosophy and history enhances the book's credibility. He references letters, journals, and biographies, showcasing the depth of his research. While some interpretations of the philosophers' motivations are open to debate, Ward presents his arguments persuasively and encourages further exploration.
Lovers of Philosophy isn't a comprehensive examination of these philosophers' works, but it offers a unique and thought-provoking perspective. It stands out from traditional biographies by highlighting the often-overlooked role of love in intellectual development. While comparisons to traditional philosophy texts might leave Lovers of Philosophy feeling light, it excels at making complex ideas relatable and sparking an interest in the personal lives that shaped them.
Lovers of Philosophy is a delightful read for anyone curious about philosophy, the messy world of love, or the intersection of the two. It's a perfect pick for book clubs or anyone who wants to be entertained while learning something new. Just don't expect an all-encompassing analysis of each philosopher's work—that's a topic for another day.
Ward argues that love wasn't just a backdrop for these thinkers' lives; it was woven into the very fabric of their philosophies. We encounter Kant's pining for a married woman, allegedly influencing his views on duty and reason. Hegel's premarital affair, Ward suggests, informed his ideas on freedom and the master-slave dialectic. The book goes on to explore the heartbreak of Nietzsche, the hypocrisy of Heidegger, and the unconventional relationships of Sartre, Foucault, and Derrida.
Ward's writing is engaging and lively. He avoids dry academic jargon, instead opting for a conversational style that feels like you're listening to a friend tell a captivating story. Each chapter focuses on one philosopher, providing a biographical sketch before diving into their love life and its philosophical impact. This structure keeps things organised and easy to follow, though I did hope for a bit more analysis that delved deeper into the specific connections between love and philosophy.
Ward's obvious understanding of philosophy and history enhances the book's credibility. He references letters, journals, and biographies, showcasing the depth of his research. While some interpretations of the philosophers' motivations are open to debate, Ward presents his arguments persuasively and encourages further exploration.
Lovers of Philosophy isn't a comprehensive examination of these philosophers' works, but it offers a unique and thought-provoking perspective. It stands out from traditional biographies by highlighting the often-overlooked role of love in intellectual development. While comparisons to traditional philosophy texts might leave Lovers of Philosophy feeling light, it excels at making complex ideas relatable and sparking an interest in the personal lives that shaped them.
Lovers of Philosophy is a delightful read for anyone curious about philosophy, the messy world of love, or the intersection of the two. It's a perfect pick for book clubs or anyone who wants to be entertained while learning something new. Just don't expect an all-encompassing analysis of each philosopher's work—that's a topic for another day.
September 22, 2023
Philosophers get laid?
I used to think that all these philosophers were great thinkers who greatly contributed to civilization, but what was their personal life like? I wondered if their philosophy was influenced by their love life or personal experiences.
It turns out that you can't separate their personal lives from their work. It's their personal life and experiences that shaped their thoughts and ideas.
I can confidently say that the love life of philosophers has had an impact on how they think. Philosophers are humans just like you and me. Their works never exist in isolation because they are products of their life experiences, including their childhood fears, music preferences, friendships, financial situations, inner insecurities, relationships with their parents, and yes, certainly their love lives.
"If you were to watch a documentary about a philosopher – Heidegger, Kant, or Hegel, what would you like to see in it?" the interviewer asked Derrida.
"Their sex lives. If you want a quick answer. I would like to hear them speak about their sexual lives. I would like to hear them speak about it. It’s something they don’t talk about. I'd love to hear about something they refuse to talk about. Why do philosophers present themselves asexually in their work? Why have they erased their private lives from their work? Or never talk about anything personal? There is nothing more important in their private life than love," said Derrida.
I can't say that this book gave me a deeper understanding of the works of these philosophers… but still, it was entertaining and fun to read! I think you don't need a heavy interest in philosophy to enjoy this book. The writing is like a novel sometimes, and it is page-turning!
"We are the sum of all our experiences" - B.J. Neblett
I used to think that all these philosophers were great thinkers who greatly contributed to civilization, but what was their personal life like? I wondered if their philosophy was influenced by their love life or personal experiences.
It turns out that you can't separate their personal lives from their work. It's their personal life and experiences that shaped their thoughts and ideas.
I can confidently say that the love life of philosophers has had an impact on how they think. Philosophers are humans just like you and me. Their works never exist in isolation because they are products of their life experiences, including their childhood fears, music preferences, friendships, financial situations, inner insecurities, relationships with their parents, and yes, certainly their love lives.
"If you were to watch a documentary about a philosopher – Heidegger, Kant, or Hegel, what would you like to see in it?" the interviewer asked Derrida.
"Their sex lives. If you want a quick answer. I would like to hear them speak about their sexual lives. I would like to hear them speak about it. It’s something they don’t talk about. I'd love to hear about something they refuse to talk about. Why do philosophers present themselves asexually in their work? Why have they erased their private lives from their work? Or never talk about anything personal? There is nothing more important in their private life than love," said Derrida.
I can't say that this book gave me a deeper understanding of the works of these philosophers… but still, it was entertaining and fun to read! I think you don't need a heavy interest in philosophy to enjoy this book. The writing is like a novel sometimes, and it is page-turning!
"We are the sum of all our experiences" - B.J. Neblett
January 10, 2022
You don’t need a burning interest in philosophy to enjoy this book. Warren’s writing makes it a pleasure to read, with succinct chapters exploring 7 famous European philosophers as real people, complete with flaws and fears, prejudices and peccadillos. Philosophy like this is never dull. It’s an entertaining journey, that had me laughing out loud in some places. I didn’t want to put it down.
Warren brings his background as a psychotherapist to bear on these philosophers, examining how their intimate lives, from childhood experiences to later sexual adventures, shaped not only who they became, but also how they thought – influencing the philosophy they brought to the world. Spanning over 250 years, from 1750s to 2000s, Warren manages to bring the Europe of centuries ago to life, as he also shows how ways of thinking were influenced by the culture and mores of different eras.
Warren brings his background as a psychotherapist to bear on these philosophers, examining how their intimate lives, from childhood experiences to later sexual adventures, shaped not only who they became, but also how they thought – influencing the philosophy they brought to the world. Spanning over 250 years, from 1750s to 2000s, Warren manages to bring the Europe of centuries ago to life, as he also shows how ways of thinking were influenced by the culture and mores of different eras.
February 28, 2022
A masterpiece – you can really feel the years of love, effort & attention to detail.
As a complete philosophy novice, I worried that I wouldn’t understand or appreciate this book, but the short stories are individually engaging and the writing style makes it feel like you’re reading a fiction book, excited to see what happens to the protagonist next and how the next character carries on from the last.
The stories flow so cleverly together, without knowing it by the end you’ve had an introductory course to modern philosophy!
It’s so interesting to see how each philosopher’s life experiences, faults and struggles shaped their thinking and hence societal thoughts. You also get a sense of the author’s psychoanalytical skills (an eminent psychiatrist) throughout the book.
The ending & epilogue tie the whole book together.
As a complete philosophy novice, I worried that I wouldn’t understand or appreciate this book, but the short stories are individually engaging and the writing style makes it feel like you’re reading a fiction book, excited to see what happens to the protagonist next and how the next character carries on from the last.
The stories flow so cleverly together, without knowing it by the end you’ve had an introductory course to modern philosophy!
It’s so interesting to see how each philosopher’s life experiences, faults and struggles shaped their thinking and hence societal thoughts. You also get a sense of the author’s psychoanalytical skills (an eminent psychiatrist) throughout the book.
The ending & epilogue tie the whole book together.
March 5, 2022
Lovers of Philosophy draws the reader in with story - tales of childhood loss, lifelong friendships, affairs and unrequited love. The seven philosophers are shown to be brilliant minds but flawed humans, experiencing joys and griefs, successes and failures.
Philosophy is woven throughout the book, but so deftly and lightly, you hardly realise you're being educated as you read about the intriguing lives and loves of Kant, Heidegger, Sartre, Nietzsche, Hegel, Foucault and Derrida.
Lovers of Philosophy is hugely appealing and genuinely fascinating. Highly recommend.
Philosophy is woven throughout the book, but so deftly and lightly, you hardly realise you're being educated as you read about the intriguing lives and loves of Kant, Heidegger, Sartre, Nietzsche, Hegel, Foucault and Derrida.
Lovers of Philosophy is hugely appealing and genuinely fascinating. Highly recommend.
April 30, 2022
okay this book was so slay. very different to my usual reads but i love philosophy so i had to. the first thing to note is carrying it around and reading it made me feel very cool and mysterious. anyway that’s beside the point. i just found it so interesting to learn about all these different philosophers and their backgrounds and personal lives. some i’ve learnt about in school and it’s so cool because i know their works quite well so seeing the thought behind them is so fun!!!! also sartre was a wild ride and def my favourite.
and the author is from brisbane!!!! how sick
and the author is from brisbane!!!! how sick
May 21, 2024
The whole "love lives of philosophers" idea seems to lose some steam towards the chapter on Michel Foucault, from which point it just seems to be mainly biography that happens to have some barely noteworthy mentions of the philosophers' lovers and extramarital liaisons. However, the segment on Sartre/Beauvoir certainly makes for the book's main event, as does the revelation that Nietzsche could be a contender for world's first Nice Guy redditor. Nevertheless, it was a good read, and Warren Ward's closure with Derrida put everything on a nice finish.
December 2, 2023
This was such a unique & interesting book - I loved being acquainted & reacquainted with so many fascinating philosophers and their ideas…but it also didn’t read like a textbook or dry history account. The thread of love and human connection in the lives of these thinkers is so obviously crucial and yet so rarely discussed in conjunction with their ideas. Very well-written and accessible. I really enjoyed!!!
June 21, 2022
I loved this book and look forward to keeping it on my bookshelf to re-read in the future. Accessible enough for beginner philosophy lovers - or people like me who have a let their philosophy knowledge get a bit rusty - but still engaging and thought provoking enough to hold attention. A wonderful mix of non-fiction and narrative story telling.
July 27, 2022
This book helped me to understand that even some of the greatest minds to exist could not navigate their way through matters of the heart. From the heartlessness of Hegel to the easy-to-understand breakdown of deconstructionism and how it affected Derrida's love life, Warren Ward has created a book that will fascinate those interested in human stories and how the mind and heart intersect.
October 18, 2022
This is an enlightening book that gives detailed insight into the private lives of seven of the great philosophers. Ward provides a great introduction to their ideas and how their private experiences contributed to these ideas. Meticulously researched, the writing style is engaging, intelligent, and entirely accessible. For me, it was unputdownable!
November 23, 2024
This is not a book on philosophy, but a utmost requirement for how the backbone of continental philosophy developed. Going on every philosopher, in easy language you get a gist of what they talked about and how their work came about, with certain incident in their life that forever changed how they look on philosophy. Very enjoyable and educational at the same time.
June 27, 2022
An exciting view how ideas of some great philosophers correspondened with their personal life. It's a living act of history to see all of them connected from one lifetime to another and in their just innate humanness. Wonderful!
April 18, 2024
For someone who has always wanted to dip my toe into these theories and personalities, this is perfect. With just enough romantic intrigue to keep you on your toes, it’s feeding the same part of my brain that enjoys love is blind
December 14, 2025
4/5
An interesting books about how the romantic lives of 7 philosophers influenced them and their works. Sometimes we even get to know about some people around them like their mentors and friends.
An interesting books about how the romantic lives of 7 philosophers influenced them and their works. Sometimes we even get to know about some people around them like their mentors and friends.
May 5, 2022
Really liked this book. Bite sized and digestible looks into the lives of famous philosophers. Most of them seemed like incels though? Interesting...
March 6, 2023
a compelling read!
December 26, 2023
Interesting to get a glimpse into the lives of some of the most influential philosophers. Thought a lot of the connections between the romance / philosophy were pretty big stretches
April 27, 2024
great and tbh really interesting
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