Philosophy of Sexuality

This dissertation is an attempt to provide a philosophical basis upon which the descriptions of human sexuality, as revealed by the natural and social sciences, may be coordinated, synthesized, and fully understood. Our primary purpose is to reassess the way in which human sexuality is conceived, studied, experienced, and expressed. This involves viewing sexuality as an essential function of personhood, incorporating it within the whole of human existence , and ultimately re-evaluating what it means to speak of persons as sexual (...) beings. ;The meaning we assign to "human sexuality" is broader than the ordinary one. We use this term "sexuality" to indicate a form of human behavior whereby an embodied consciousness expresses itself and finds expression in its relations with others and with the world. It is characterized by the fact that, while arising out of the bio-physical conditions of physical--i.e., reproductive--sex, it is not restricted to these conditions for its full meaningfulness. Instead, human sexuality is conceptualized as a form of behavior through which we may manifest our unique ability to orient ourselves to the world, subjectively and creatively, as persons. ;Using Merleau-Ponty's The Structure of Behavior as a running thread, this phenomenological inquiry proceeds from a bio-physical description of human sexuality through a psycho-social one, and brings us to a point where it becomes possible to distinguish the fact of human sexuality, human sexual behavior, the consciousness of sex differences, and the consequences of the consciousness of sex differences. Our phenomenology of human sexuality thus enables us to recognize the true interdependence of all the factors that go into an individual's sexual make-up. Along with this, it provides a trans-disciplinary basis upon which we can create a synthesis and a unity of the various perspectival approaches to the subject. Further our investigation serves to point out the need for us to consider more carefully the value of sexuality in human life, and to re-evaluate seriously the framework from within which it is currently conceptualized. (shrink)

Após a obrigatoriedade da educação sexual (ES) nas escolas portuguesas em 2009, pretendemos conhecer que perspectiva têm os professores ( N = 307) sobre a ES. Através de um questionário on-line , analisado através de estatística descritiva e de análise factorial e inferencial, avaliámos as atitudes ..

Many philosophers have held that all thought is thought of being, i.e., that every thought contains an implicit stance toward being. Historically, "objective reality" has been the dominant ontological presupposition. This essay intends to undermine "objective reality" as an interpretive background, and to re-think the notions of "truth," "freedom," and "love" from the standpoint of the non-objective ontology of Gabriel Marcel. The specific hermeneutical horizon for such interpretations is Marcel's notion of "ontological exigence." ;After the introductory chapter, the essay is (...) divided into four main chapters. The second chapter sets forth the fundamental features of Marcel's thought. It examines the theme of the "broken world," the manner in which Marcel addresses the question of being, and the "primary reflection/secondary reflection," and "problem/mystery" distinctions. Chapter three elucidates the difference between the notions of "existence" and "objectivity" preparing the way for chapter four which provides an analysis of Marcel's unique approach to being centering in the foundational experience of ontological exigence. The concluding chapter offers interpretations of "truth," "freedom," and "love" which are grounded in ontological exigence. It is held that a fundamental meaning of "truth" is found in the notion of "fullness" or "fulfillment." The truth of being is the fulfillment of ontological exigence. Such fulfillment is discovered in the interaction of freedom and love. But "freedom" must not be seen as the indetermination of the will, nor should love be understood as mere emotion. Existence is perched between the demand to be, and the temptations of the objective world. Freedom is that possibility of releasement from the objective world which is granted as a gift implicit in the demand to be, and which becomes actual only through the power of love. Freedom stands under the constant threat of slipping toward objective determination unless touched by love, the mysterious bond and invisible fabric of being itself. ;While many believe that "truth," "freedom," and "love" are exclusive notions, this interpretation holds that they are interdependent. Ultimately, "freedom-love" emerges as the essence of truth. One stands freely in the truth of being only in love. (shrink)

Kings in Their Castles, a collective portrait of the gay urban community in America, offers a personal view of some of our leading artists, writers, filmmakers, composers, musicians, and designers.

We propose an externalist understanding of sex that builds upon extended and distributed approaches to cognition, and contributes to building a more just, diversity-sensitive society. Current sex categorization practices according to the female/male dichotomy are not only inaccurate and incoherent, but they also ground moral and political pressures that harm and oppress people. We argue that a new understanding of sex is due, an understanding that would acknowledge the variability and, most important, the flexibility of sex properties, as well as (...) the moral and political meaning of sex categorization. We propose an externalist account of sex, elaborating on extended and distributed approaches to cognition that capitalize on the natural capacity of organisms to couple with environmental resources. We introduce the notion of extended sex, and argue that properties relevant for sex categorization are neither exclusively internal to the individual skin, nor fixed. Finally, we spell out the potential of extended sex to support an active defense of diversity and an intervention against sex-based discrimination. (shrink)

Barker, Ken The Missionaries of God's Love was erected by the Archbishop of Canberra and Goulburn as a clerical religious institute of diocesan right on 8 February 2014. As we increase in numbers and spread further internationally, we aim to eventually become an institute of pontifical right. We also have MGL sisters, who have the same charism. They are applying to be recognised as a public association of Christ's faithful, with a view towards, somewhere in the future, becoming a religious (...) institute also. (shrink)

This study examines the characteristic features of epidemic hysteria reports in school settings, describing broad presentation patterns, and implications for management. Three distinct symptom patterns are evident based on the descriptive features of reports. The first type is ‘mass motor hysteria’ which predominates in non‐Western traditional cultures among students exposed to pre‐existing psychosocial stress, most frequently repressive academic and religious discipline, which precipitates dissociation, histrionics, and psychomotor alterations. A second pattern, ‘mass anxiety hysteria’ , is typified by the sudden appearance (...) of extreme anxiety following the redefinition of a mundane event such as illness in a fellow student or an unfamiliar odour, which is perceived as an immediate threat. A third pattern, ‘mass pseudo‐hysteria’ involves the relabelling of mundane symptoms by hypervigilant authorities. Epidemic hysteria in school settings manifests as variants of a unitary syndrome that is masked by cultural custom and local nomenclature. A diagnosis is reached by noting the absence of a concrete pathogenic etiology, in conjunction with group anxiety, ambiguous, benign, transient symptomatology, and a preponderance of female victims. Management consists of the identification and removal of the precipitating psychosocial stress. (shrink)

If fatherhood is a role of man that is decisively important for an ecological family life then his formation, his duties and his attitudes are a proper subject for enquiry. Though this topic is treated very sparingly by philosophers, insights from Kierkegaard, Ortega y Gasset and others will be investigated as sources for developing this issue. ;The purpose of this dissertation is to demonstrate that a comprehensive view of fatherhood can be developed by synthesizing the contributions of various philosophers and (...) other literary figures with a serious phenomenological, existential reflection on fatherly experience. ;In the first chapter, the foundation of fatherly attitudes are explored in the formation of a young man, as born into a family. Here the groundwork for a desire to be father is cultivated by man's relation to God and his family. ;The second chapter explores the issue of what attracts a man to a woman. Kierkegaard's speeches using pseudonyms in Stages on Life's Way are analyzed and found to contain a view of woman that makes her attractive to man in being an aesthetically desirable complement of his masculinity. Man is also attracted by the motherly traits of woman. This leads man to reflect on his desire to marry. ;In the third chapter, a fatherly reflection on marriage is developed. The uniquely female closeness to her child in pregnancy and nursing is analyzed to show the great debt that man has to woman, and as a source for a later development of his corresponding duties. ;Later a study of the thoughts of Kant, John Paul II and others is made to discover what leads man to practice in the fatherly virtues of fidelity, guardianship, and providing for and educating his family. ;The dangers to fatherhood in contraception, abortion and homosexuality are evaluated in the light of fatherhood. ;Finally, the fatherly virtues of serving his family are extended to his grandchildren up to the time of his exit from this world. (shrink)