Better Call Sexton James Sexton: Learning To Love Is A Myth
Jan 20, 2026
A witty dive into love as a topic of academic study and how promoting it might boost human flourishing. Short debate on whether schools should teach relationship and communication skills. A critique of the soulmate, all-or-nothing marriage ideal and how it shapes expectations. A provocative look at using neuroenhancement to improve relationships and the ethics that raises.
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Teach Relationship Skills, Not Just Facts
- Schools teach what to think about more than how to live, which skews societal priorities.
- Framing love as an academic subject can legitimize teaching relationship skills and change what society values.
Add Practical Social Skills To Curricula
- Do teach practical social skills like civil arguing, rapport building, and body language in schools.
- Treat these as teachable life skills that improve connection and civic functioning.
Biology Clarifies Romantic Behavior
- Differentiating love, lust, and manipulative behaviors is taught in existing academic courses.
- Teaching about biological drivers helps students understand emotions as physiologic processes.
