Aaron Ben-Ze'ev

Aaron Ben-Ze'ev was born in 1949

Aaron Ben-Ze'ev was born on 30 July 1949 to Israel and Haika Ben-Ze'ev. He grew up on kibbutz Ein Carmel with his two older brothers, Yehuda and Avinoam. His eldest brother Yehuda was killed in the Six-Day War.

He earned a B.A. in philosophy and economics in 1975 and an M.A. in philosophy in 1977, both at the University of Haifa. In 1981 he received a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago. His thesis treated perception as a cognitive system.

At the University of Haifa he chaired the philosophy department, served as dean of research and as rector, and was president from 2004 to 2012. He helped found the Interdisciplinary Center for the Study of Emotions and headed the university press. He also chaired the Association of Universities' Heads of Israel.

His early work dealt with perception and the mind-body problem, and he later turned to the study of emotions and romantic love. His books include The Perceptual System, The Subtlety of Emotions, Love Online and The Arc of Love. He is president of the European Philosophical Society for the Study of Emotions.

He is married to Ruth and has two sons. He lives in Zikhron Ya'akov.