Author

Adrian Johnston

Follow

Adrian Johnston is Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at the University of New Mexico. Working closely with Slavoj Žižek, his writing seeks to reconcile scientific naturalism with psychoanalysis's insights into human subjectivity. He is author of several books, including Žižek's Ontology: A Transcendental Materialist Theory of Subjectivity (Northwestern University Press, 2008), A New German Idealism: Hegel, Žižek, and Dialectical Materialism (Columbia University Press, 2018), Infinite Greed: The Inhuman Selfishness of Capital (Columbia University Press, 2024), and most recently God is Undead: Psychoanalysis for Unbelievers (Bloomsbury, 2025).

https://philosophy.unm.edu/people/faculty/profile/adrian-johnston.html

Adrian Johnston is Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at the University of New Mexico. Working closely with Slavoj Žižek, his writing seeks to reconcile scientific naturalism with psychoanalysis's insights into human subjectivity. He is author of several books, including Žižek's Ontology: A Transcendental Materialist Theory of Subjectivity (Northwestern University Press, 2008), A New German Idealism: Hegel, Žižek, and Dialectical Materialism (Columbia University Press, 2018), Infinite Greed: The Inhuman Selfishness of Capital (Columbia University Press, 2024), and most recently God is Undead: Psychoanalysis for Unbelievers (Bloomsbury, 2025).

More Articles

A vibrant collection of padlocks in various colors, predominantly red, attached to a fence or structure, symbolizing love and commitment.

Conquer Your Love!

A heart shape made from an assortment of various colored pills, including red, white, and brown tablets, against a black background.

Brooke Magnanti

Legislating Love

Two figures in elegant attire sit back-to-back on a chair amidst the ruins of a destroyed building, set against a moody, overcast sky.

Christopher Hamilton

Divorce is the New Death

A robotic hand holding a stitched, metallic heart, symbolizing the intersection of technology and emotion.

Anders Sandberg

Manufacturing Love

Red keyboard key featuring a white heart symbol, set against a white keyboard backdrop.

Catherine Hakim

Love Incorporated

A person interacts with a smartphone displaying Tinder, featuring an image of philosopher Søren Kierkegaard, with a cup of coffee on a table.

Christopher Hamilton, David Maclean

Christopher Hamilton On Kierkegaard and Tinder

Abstract watercolor illustration of a heart shape, blending vibrant shades of pink, purple, and orange.

Fine-tuning Passion: When is love not an emotion?

infidelity same still from brief encounter

Massimo Pigliucci

Infidelity: a Stoic's perspective

A person with long blonde hair dances joyfully in a field surrounded by colorful tents, celebrating at a festival during sunset.

The Good Life in the 21st Century: Living Single

A collage of various individuals, possibly notable figures in philosophy or art, highlighted against a pink background, showcasing diverse expressions and poses.

What Are Love and Sex? Eight Answers from Philosophy

A highly detailed, colorful close-up of a human eye reflecting intricate patterns and hues within the iris, set against a black background.

Looks are not superficial

A vintage photo of two people engaged in conversation over tea, with a colorful, artistic overlay creating a surreal effect.

The love lives of philosophers changed how we think

A heart shape made from various metallic tools and fasteners, including bolts, nuts, washers, and a wrench, arranged on a dark fabric background.

Anders Sandberg, Alexis Papazoglou

Hacking Love Isn’t Cheating

A swirling abstract composition of red and white hues blending against a soft blue background, creating a fluid and ethereal visual effect.

The changing face of love

Silhouettes of a woman, a child pointing, and a man walking with luggage inside an airport, against a backdrop of large windows and a cloudy sky.

The case for abolishing the family

A collection of wooden heart shapes in various shades, with one vibrant red heart standing out among the muted tones.

Rewriting romance

Portrait of a man with a mustache, surrounded by roses and candles at a dinner table, set against a mountain backdrop.

Dating Nietzsche: Love vs Power

philosophy is an erotic endeavor

Philosophy is an erotic endeavor

A vintage Sinclair ZX Spectrum computer surrounded by green leaves and a single red rose, showcasing a blend of technology and nature.

Andrés Abeliuk

What dating apps get wrong about your love life

A silhouetted couple embraces against a dreamy background of luminous orbs and a glowing central light, creating a romantic atmosphere.

Love is not a virtue

A skeletal angel sculpture contrasts with a vibrant stained glass window, showcasing intricate details of the figure and the colorful backdrop.

Of Wonder and Terror

A partially eaten sandwich with sesame seeds on the bun, accompanied by a small cup of light-colored liquid, possibly a beverage.

An (Extra)Ordinary Life

Edward Snowden speaks via video link at an event, with a backdrop featuring the U.S. Constitution's preamble in a crowd-filled room.

On Heresy

Three abstract sculptures of women with varying expressions, each covering different parts of their faces, set against a plain wall.

In Defence of Gossip

A historical scene depicting figures gathered around a pile of burning books, showcasing themes of knowledge and conflict, likely involving philosophical or religious debates.

Editorial: A Heretics' Feast

A close-up of a single boot print on the lunar surface, showcasing the fine texture of the moon's dust and rocks.

What Killed the Space Race?

An abstract representation of a network connecting user icons amidst a blurred crowd, symbolizing social connections and digital interaction.

The Factory of Virtual Fantasies

A close-up view of a circular hole, revealing a human eye looking through it, with a blurred background.

Woodrow Hartzog

Privacy and the Dark Side of Control

To gift or not to gift A philosophers dilemma

Skye C. Cleary, John Kaag

To gift or not to gift? A philosopher's dilemma

An illustration depicting two figures engaged in dialogue, showcasing intricate clothing and expressions, likely representing a philosophical or theological discussion.

How to cope with loss: the advice of Al-Kindī