Beyond Romance

<p><b>Critiques the predominant romantic ideal.</b></p><p>Beyond Romance critiques the romantic ideal that predominates contemporary thought and practice-it defines explores and advocates authentic love as a preferable alternative. The author claims that you can't genuinely love a person you don't know and that the quality of love depends on the quality and extent of the knowing. Drawing heavily from the work of Merleau-Ponty Dillon also takes up the classical treatments of love from Plato to the present emphasizing Hegel Freud Sartre and Derrida. Dillon argues that much of contemporary erotic malaise is traceable to the flaws in the romantic model and that authentic love addresses these mistakes and promises relief.</p>