PHIL 2170 Lecture 1: PHIL 2170 - 01 - February 3, 2015
Document Summary
Clarifying our concept of sex will give us a sensible view of sexual morality - a descriptive and narrative problem. Must think of sex without cultural attachments; plain sex. "means- ends" analysis attributes an external defining goal to sexual activity. Imply views of perversion as sex not aimed at the "appropriate goal" - do not match the common use of the term perversion. Can be seen as not just about orgasm. This is minimal criterion for normal sexual desire. Over- inclusive: could be a desire to be comforted, not sexually. Under- inclusive: personality can be sexually attractive; that is embodied and behaviour, not physical. Modern contraceptive makes reproduction irrelevant to the morality of sex. Sex can occur without the expression of love, and sex can express many things other than love. Problems with identifying sex as a physical- psychological desire with long- term deep emotional relationship: Monogamous sex is hard while monogamous love is not.
