Philosophy of Sex: Evolution, Love & Human Sexuality

[karene]

Philosophy of Sex: Evolution, Love & Human Sexuality

Analyse any human emotion, no matter how far it may be removed from the sphere of sex, and you are sure to discover somewhere the primal impulse, to which life owes its perpetuation.
The primitive stages can always be re-established; the primitive mind is, in the fullest meaning of the word, imperishable. (Sigmund Freud, 1915)

If insemination were the sole biological function of sex, it could be achieved far more economically in a few seconds of mounting and insertion. Indeed, the least social of mammals mate with scarcely more ceremony. The species that have evolved long-term bonds are also, by and large, the ones that rely on elaborate courtship rituals. . . . Love and sex do indeed go together. (Edward O. Wilson, Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press (1978). On Human Nature)

Socrates in the Phaedrus distinguishes between a blind, unreasonable eros and an eros which is guided by reason. The first arises when the attraction is to a beautiful body and where the desire is for momentary physical possession. Here, beauty is a means of enkindling sexual passion and satisfying it. The reasonable eros is similarly passionate, but is directed more by reason and passes through three stages:
1. At the lowest level, the love of beauty in one body leads one to recognise that beauty is not to be found in one thing but that beauty is found in many different guises,
2. At the second level, it is the beauty of the other person’s mind which attracts. A person finds that this has an improving influence on them and may challenge and develop them.
At the third stage, it is the beauty of science or ideas in general that are found to be most attractive of all. This leads onto the search for pure beauty, or the perfect Form of beauty which, in Christian terms, is expressed most deeply in God. (Vardy, The Puzzle of Sex, 1997)

Introduction to Philosophy of Sex

What an interesting topic for our little forum!

In one sense it is strange how little philosophers have written on sexuality, as it is clear from Evolution that Sex and Survival are the two most fundamental forces driving our continued existence. What it does show is how our culture, our religious beliefs, and our emotions have prevented us from writing honestly on this most profound subject. The current U.S. government trying to roll back abortion and ban gay marriage is a relevant example of religion restricting sexuality. What a strange world, I think, when we counter this sweeping religious conservatism with female 'rolemodels' such as Britney Spears parading around like a porn star (oops she is a virgin, right?) Strange world indeed.
Evidence suggests that where sex is actively prohibited though, as within certain religions, then the sexual urge, being so strong, tends to manifest in abusive ways that cause great harm to human society. (The sexual abuse of children by priests is an obvious example of this.)

Peter Vardy is a contemporary philosopher whose book 'The Puzzle of Sex' is a welcome, refreshing and inherently sensible view of human sexuality. We are sexual! and this involves a wonderful variety of different ways of being sexual.

All human beings are sexual creatures and there are few, if any, for whom the whole area of sexuality and relationships is not of interest and concern. (Peter Vardy)


So much to write!
I hope we can discuss the philosophy of sexuality and culture sensibly in this forum, without the constraints of customs or religious belief and from good scientific foundations (evolution, wsm).

Cheers,
Karene :roll:

http://www.spaceandmotion.com/Howie-Biography.htm
http://www.spaceandmotion.com/Philosophy-Feminism.htm
http://www.spaceandmotion.com/Philosophy-Love-Sex-Orgasm.htm