Defining Sex Philosophy 2103 Philosophies of Love Sex

Defining Sex Philosophy 2103: Philosophies of Love, Sex, and Friendship

What is a sexual act? • Clinton and Lewinsky • Judge’s narrow definition of sex: a person engages in sex only when one “knowingly … causes contact with the genitalia, anus, groin, breast, inner thigh, or buttocks of any person. ” • Other cases? • Greeks and pederasty? • Sex workers?

• • • Doctor and patient? Sexual assault? The question of intention (and not just bodily parts) Clinton and Lewinsky again Lap dancers?

Philosophy • • Socrates and the beginning of philosophy Scepticism Methodology Different questions/Different goals

How many people does it take to have sex? • Thomas Nagel: escalating levels of mutual, reciprocal interpersonal desire. Non-reciprocal desire is truncated/incomplete or perverse/unnatural. • Jean Paul Sartre: subject/object. I recognize other as a subject, she recognizes me (and reduces me) to an object. To avoid this, I objectify her. I wish to possess the other as subject and object but this is doomed to failure. Sex, therefore, is essentially solitary.

• Immanuel Kant: The sexual drive reduces the object of our desire to bodily parts that we then use to satisfy our desires. It is, then, using others solely as a means to our own ends (of sexual gratification) and as such is morally problematic. • Combinations?

What are the advantages and disadvantages of solitary sex? • • • Former Surgeon General, Jocelyn Elders’ forced resignation. History of beliefs about masturbation Wasting seed. ? ? ? Possible benefits Possible harms

Possible benefits • • 1) risk free re. STD’s, pregnancies 2) uncomplicated socially and emotionally 3) few psychological risks 4) availability 5) sexual exploration 6) freedom from convention 7) health benefits (e. g. , stress)

Possible harms • • 1) Can’t produce pregnancy 2) can’t contribute to emotional growth and social skills Could lead to isolation and loneliness Lacks excitement – sex and the unknown Loosing touch with reality Interference with other parts of one’s life Can’t make you feel wanted, loved, etc.

Conclusion re. masturbation • Moderation • Good at some times and in some situations • Both solitary and companion sex probably necessary for a good life. • Tolerance and openess

Is cybersex genuine sex? • Film examples: Sleeper, Barbarella, Demolition Man, Crash. • How important is physical, skin-on-skin contact? How important is interaction? How important is immersion? • Realism and correspondence theory of truth • Mind vs. Body: Materialism, Idealism, Dualism

Teledildonics/Cyberdildonics • • Immersion Physical stimulation Mental stimulation Interaction Real Time Cybersex and therapy? Better than other sex? Crash – dehumanizing technology?

Does sex have a purpose? • • • Procreation ‘One flesh’ Communication (or love, etc, or learning ‘body language’) Mutual, reciprocal interaction Goldman, “Plain Sex”: sexual desire is the desire for contact with another person’s body and for the pleasure which such contact produces; sexual activity is activity which tends to fulfill such desire of the agent. ”

Considerations • Do intentions have no part to play? • Is the mind irrelevant? • BDSM as an example – power and domination rather than bodily contact per se