Elizabeth Brake

Elizabeth Brake is a Professor of Philosophy at Rice University, with a forthcoming position at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She holds a PhD from the University of St. Andrews and a BA from Oxford University, specializing in Classics and English. Her research focuses on ethics, political philosophy, feminist philosophy, and disaster ethics, particularly examining marriage law reform, intimate partner violence, and the state's role in disaster recovery. She has served as Editor of the Journal of Applied Philosophy and is now an Associate Editor at Ethics (2024).

Brake’s work challenges societal norms through analyses of amatonormativity and advocates for inclusive legal frameworks for relationships. Key awards include the APA Book Prize Honorable Mention (2014) and grants from the Canadian SSHRC and NEH. She has held fellowships at institutions such as the University of British Columbia and Tulane University’s Murphy Institute.

Her research spans disaster ethics (e.g., price gouging morality), procreative ethics (genetic ties and parental obligations), and feminist critiques of family law. She teaches courses on love and sex, applied ethics, and philosophy and literature. Recent publications include articles on stalking, emotional abuse, and post-disaster rebuilding policies.