Care of the Sexual Self

Name: Care of the Sexual Self
Price: 170 AUD
Availability: OutOfStock
ISBN: 9781666953992

Áskesis as a Route to Sex Education

Shaun Miller

$170

Hardback

Not in-store but you can order this
How long will it take?

Availability Information

We source books from suppliers in Australia and overseas. For books we don't currently have in stock, the time it takes to get them from our suppliers can vary widely - from a few days to a few months - so we check each book with each supplier to determine the expected time it will take to be supplied to us.

We will update you on expected arrival time to us. If this delay is too long, please let us know within 2 business days and we can give you options regarding cancelling or adjusting your order. More details on cancelling your order can be found in our Terms of Trade.

To find out the anticipated arrival time for specific items prior to ordering, please contact us by phone or email:

Phone +61 2 9264 3111, or 1800 4 BOOKS (1800 4 26657) if outside Sydney:
option 1 Abbey's Bookshop (Crime, History, Science, Kids & more) • info@abbeys.com.au
option 2 Language Book Centre (ESL & Foreign Languages) • language@abbeys.com.au
option 3 Galaxy Bookshop (Sci-fi, Fantasy, Romance, Graphic Novels) • sf@galaxybooks.com.au

QTY:

English

Rowman & Littlefield
19 February 2026

Social issues & processes; Ethical issues & debates; Gender studies, gender groups; Sexual behaviour; Philosophy & theory of education

In response to the limitations of traditional US sex education models, this book presents a groundbreaking approach rooted in ancient practices of self-cultivation.

Shaun Miller critiques existing frameworks—paternalistic, liberal-consequentialist, and liberal-deontological—arguing that they focus narrowly on behavior, outcomes, and consent while neglecting the deeper development of sexual identity and character.

The áskesis model, in contrast, offers a transformative method that emphasizes self-discipline, emotional awareness, and critical engagement with societal norms. By applying áskesis to modern sex education, the book proposes a curriculum that encourages students to explore their authentic sexual selves and question heteronormative assumptions. The áskesis model moves beyond risk avoidance and simply giving or receiving consent: it empowers individuals to embrace diverse sexual and gender identities while fostering moral and emotional growth.

By: Shaun Miller
Imprint: Rowman & Littlefield
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 229mm, Width: 152mm,
ISBN: 9781666953992
ISBN 10: 1666953997
Pages: 336
Publication Date: 19 February 2026
Audience: Professional and scholarly , Undergraduate
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Acknowledgements List of Figures Introduction 1. The Scope and Character of Paternalistic Sex Education 2. Theoretical Paternalistic Sex Education 3. The Liberal-Consequentialist Model 4. The Liberal-Deontological Model 5. The Áskesis Model 6. Applying Áskesis Model to Sex Education Conclusion References Index

Shaun Miller teaches philosophy at Iona University, USA.

Reviews for Care of the Sexual Self: Áskesis as a Route to Sex Education

Care of the Sexual Self offers an important, critical philosophical intervention in the field of sexuality education. Miller’s examination of the similarities in terms, assumptions, and logics underpinning ‘Patriarchal’ and ’Liberal’ school-based sex education (SBSE) approaches, and his careful analysis of their consequences on individual development and social relations, significantly deepens current scholarship on consent, heteropatriarchy, ‘readiness,’ and other key SBSE concepts. His proposed model of áskesis, or taking-care-of-the-self, draws on contemporary philosophers (Foucault, Murdoch, Nussbaum, Schusterman) to offer an exciting new vocabulary and framework for an SBSE rooted in students’ sexual subjectivity, existing knowledge and interests, and growth as relational individuals. * Nancy Kendall, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA *