The Value of Sex

Topic:
The Value of Sex

Chairperson:
Mary Kennedy

Moderator:
Spencer Sinclare

Meetup Date:
Wednesday, November 26th 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., with a 15 minute break at 8:00 p.m.

Meetup Location:
Upstairs at The Bent Mast, 512 Simcoe St. Victoria, BC, V8V 1L8

Members:
If you plan to attend, please take a moment and RSVP. If your plans change and you cannot attend, to the right of your name there are three dots. Please click on them and move yourself to "Not Going."
Thank you :)

Quotes:
“Sex is a part of nature. I go along with nature.” ~ Marilyn Monroe

“Sex is an emotion in motion.” ~ Mae West

Synopsis:
In philosophy, the value of sex is explored through its connection to personal identity, well-being, and relationships, while also raising fundamental questions about morality, autonomy, and the relationship between reason and emotion. Some philosophical views see sex as a powerful source of pleasure and bonding that can enhance relationships, while others, like Kant’s, view it negatively as a dehumanizing act of objectification unless confined to specific contexts like procreation within marriage. The philosophical analysis of sex encompasses both its metaphysical aspects—what it means to human nature—and its normative ethical dimension—evaluating the morality of sexual acts based on principles like consent, virtue, and natural purpose.

Metaphysical and existential value

Bonding mechanism:
Sexuality is seen by some as a natural way to deepen emotional and non-sexual bonds between people.

Bonding and well-being: Some philosophers, referred to as "metaphysical sexual optimists," argue that sex is a natural mechanism for bonding that fosters pleasure, gratitude, and affection, leading to deeper emotional connections.

Intrinsic value:
These optimists see sexual pleasure as valuable in itself, not just as a means to an end.

Understanding human nature:
Analyzing sex helps address fundamental questions about human nature, its relationship to emotion and reason, and its role in the individual and the species.

Subjective and objective aspects:
Philosophical discussions explore the tension between the subjective, often elusive, nature of sexual experience and the objective ethical rules that are applied to it.

Ethical and Moral Considerations

Consent:
A core principle in modern sexual ethics is that sex is only permissible with enthusiastic consent, where “Yes means yes,” and this is a key aspect of sexual autonomy.

Sexual objectification:
A major concern is the risk of treating people as objects of appetite rather than as persons with their own ends, a critique famously made by Immanuel Kant.

Different Ethical Frameworks Offer Different Rules

Natural Law:
Views sexual activity as permissible only within specific contexts, like marriage, and often linked to the procreative function of sex.

Deontology:
May view sex as inherently problematic if it treats a person as a means to an end rather than an end in themselves.

Virtue ethics:
Would assess sexual conduct based on whether a virtuous person would engage in it, often linking it to traits like temperance, respect, and kindness.

Watch:
"From Lust to Legacy: How Sexual Energy Creates Greatness" on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/JEksilK7ix8?si=icw4elozykvUcel1

"Ancient Philosophers' life lesson on Love and Sexual Relationship" on Youtube:
https://youtu.be/Qc0v5kLpL-c?si=4sAXw_wJO90tGSt1