The Philosophy of Sex: Contemporary Readings

by Raja Halwani (Editor), Alan Soble (Editor), Sarah Hoffman (Editor)

With twenty-five essays, fourteen of which are new to this edition, this best-selling volume examines the nature, morality, and social meanings of contemporary sexual phenomena. Topics include sexual desire, masturbation, sex on the Internet, homosexuality, transgender and transsexual issues, rape, and promiscuity. New chapters discuss polyamory, transgender issues, queer issues, paraphilia, drugs and sex, objectification, BDSM, cybersex, and sex and race. Updated and new discussion questions offer students starting points for debate in both the classroom and the bedroom.

Genres: Philosophy, Nonfiction

552 pages, Paperback

Published September 15, 2017

Reviews

[Valentin · Rating 1 out of 5]

some of these essays… disgusting

[Dan DalMonte · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has some lively discussions, but it lacks breadth of perspective. Its historical figures are limited to Kant. There is no sympathetic discussion of the Thomistic-Aristotelian tradition. All the authors endorse a rejection of the natural law tradition of sexuality, in which we read off, from natural structures, the design of a Creator. There are some others who seek a more robust sexual ethics than one based on mere consent, in which consent transforms any sexual act into something morally acceptable. But even these authors are not willing to charitably discuss the traditional natural law perspective. I would have liked some historical authors mixed in with contemporary authors. That said, the discussion in this text is lively and stimulating. Kant is certainly worth considering on the issues of objectification and autonomy in sexuality.

[Zach Waldis · Rating 4 out of 5]

As my friend the other reviewer of this collection notes, traditional (I am speaking broadly here) understandings of sex and related fields are absent from this volume, in stark contrast to essays on polyamory, zoophilia, and BDSM. Nevertheless, there is value in observing the wisdom of the philosophical community from seven years ago here. Particularly in the US context, where a "porn star" president is lauded by "conservatives", sexuality and the questions raised here need incisive, philosophical investigation. I don't think these essays exhaustively "solve" or provide adequate moral guidance about sexuality, but they are a helpful and accessible entry point to the larger conversation in the academic community and beyond.