(contact for drafts)
Published
The Case for Trans Rights (2025). In Steve M. Cowen (ed), Problems in Applied Ethics. Bloomsbury
Abstract: In this paper I argue that trans people have a right to have their gender identities respected. Respect for people’s self-identities is not in general an “anything goes” proposal, and it is possible to ethically dissent to people’s self-identities. However, I argue that cis people do not meet the conditions that must be met for ethically dissenting to trans people’s gender identities. I show that, in order to respect trans people’s gender identities, cis people need to realize certain epistemic virtues towards trans people.
Public Philosophy
Gender Dysphoria and Why Wanting is Enough
I provide a critique of the concept of gender dysphoria as a diagnostic tool for trans identities, and argue that desire is the root of trans identity.
The Metaphysics of Love: an Annotated Bibliography
Co-Authored with Aida Roige Mas
We survey and summarize the available philosophical literature on romantic love.
Work in Progress
Why Transfeminism Needs an Account of Gender Identity
Abstract: The concept of gender identity has played a central role in transfeminist philosophy over the last three decades. Recently though some transfeminists argue that transfeminism does not need to account for gender identity. I rebut these arguments and show why an account of gender identity must be a central part of transfeminism’s account of transgender oppression and political resistance.
Against the Egg Prime Directive
Abstract: A widely accepted norm in communities of transgender people is, if you think someone is trans but hasn’t yet realized they are trans, you should not tell them you think they are trans! I argue that this is a harmfu norm based on faulty justification, and I argue for a different account of trans people’s ethical obligations to one another.
Dr. Jasper Heaton 