ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the lived-experience of intimacy and its ethical implications in relation to the problem of consent within the constitution of our psychological and moral identity. It focuses on what E. Husserl calls lower and higher spirit, and wakeful ego. The chapter describes the genetic constitution of intimate bonds as well as the generative web of instincts, habits, and values with which intimate love expresses itself as a bond-forming force. Husserl considers love to be a sentiment that entails a true awakening, because it is through intimate love that one can gather a privileged access to our lower and higher spirit; hence to our egoless and egoic life. Since love among all the sentiments involves a true awakening, love is also that connecting force that brings self-assembling matter to unity; this unity can be interpreted as individuals’ or groups’ identity.
