Don Marietta Jr. - Philosophy of Sexuality

The term sexuality is used in the title of this book in preference to sex because it includes more than sex. It is not meant as a euphemism, but as a word that suggests a comprehensive aspect of life that is important throughout life. Social and psychological elements are as important as the biological in understanding what it is to be a male or female human being. Sexual acts and relationships are important parts of sexuality, but they have their richest meanings and bring their greatest rewards in terms of contexts far wider than the bedroom. This book does not minimize the importance or the joy of physical sex, but it seeks to understand it in the context of life in its totality.

I see as the major parts of a philosophy of sexuality the nature of sexuality and sexual ethics. Following a historical survey of the limited philosophical work on sexuality before this century, two chapters consider specifically the nature of sexuality. stresses the need to understand sexuality in its social and psychological aspects, not just as a biological phenomenon. Not all psychological and social interpretations of sexuality are adequate, however; some are one-sided and incomplete. Difficulties in some social and psychological interpretations of sexuality are explored, along with recognition of what can be learned from these images of sexuality. Seeing sex in terms of manipulation, for example, does not do justice to all that sexuality can be in a persons life, but recognition of the element of manipulation in sex is part of a comprehensive view of sex. The concept of sexual relationships as a kind of communication is insightful, but the limitations of this image of sex are recognized. Although seeing sexuality as simply a bodily function, or an appetite such as hunger and thirst, is rejected as an adequate picture, denying the importance of body is also rejected. Sexuality cannot be transformed into something sweet and ethereal, as a modern version of courtly love or as something like religious ecstacy. It is important to recognize and understand the role of the body in sexual relations, and in this chapter a balance of bodily and social components of good sex is discussed.

focuses on the question of whether sex has a purpose. Problems with the concept of sex itself having a purpose, as opposed to the various purposes that people have for sexual behaviors, are examined. Failure to see the difference between the several functions that sex can have and the notion of sexs having a purpose causes confusion. Some of the purposes that people have for sex can be hurtful, whereas a variety of others can contribute to the well-being of the sex partners. The natural law concept of sexs having a purpose and its bearing on the practice of birth control is examined and contrasted with basing decisions about birth control on human interests.

Some of the other chapters, especially ) is the sexual orientation of a large number of women and men. That most people are heterosexual does not diminish the importance of homosexuality, both because of the moral issues raised by the way homosexual people are treated and the light it throws on the nature of sexuality.

What we see, then, is that moral issues involving sexuality cannot be dealt with apart from considerations of the nature of human sexuality, and this should come as no surprise to us. The basic question of philosophy of sexuality is the nature of human sexuality, or perhaps we should say, the natures of sexuality. We should not assume that sexuality is the same for all people. Perhaps making this assumption was one reason why earlier philosophical views of sexuality seem abstract and distanced from life.

, which deals with the question of differences between the sexes, should not be read as assuming that all males are alike and all females alike. Similarities and differences between sexuality as females experience it and as males experience it remain a matter of dispute. This discussion is not helped by failure to take seriously the possibility that females may differ from other females and males from other males.

Feminism is a very important matter in philosophy of sexuality. The chapter on feminism () is doubly important since feminism should be seen both as an approach to sexuality and as a social and political matter that raises a number of moral issues. The areas of agreement within the various approaches to feminism, as well as the areas of disagreement, illuminate a number of questions about the nature of sexuality. The chapter on feminism is put early in the book since the matters discussed have bearing on most of the issues treated in later chapters. I believe we must turn to feminism, of some type or types, if we are to integrate sexuality successfully into our personal lives and our society. Someday, when we have solved the problems that feminism has made clearer to us, we can go beyond feminism to a broader humanism. I once thought we could go directly to humanism, with its concern for all people and its goal of justice and personal fulfillment for all people. Now I see the personal, social, economic, even medical problems of gender to be crucial and critical, so that they must have an intense focus of our attention and commitment before we can go beyond them. One day, I hope, we can afford to be color blind and indifferent to gender differences in a society in which justice and equality are realities of every persons life.