Philosophy of Sex: Contemporary Readings

This book's thirty essays explore philosophically the nature and morality of sexual perversion, cybersex, masturbation, homosexuality, contraception, same-sex marriage, promiscuity, pedophilia, date rape, sexual objectification, teacher-student relationships, pornography, and prostitution. Authors include Martha Nussbaum, Thomas Nagel, Alan Goldman, John Finnis, Sallie Tisdale, Robin West, Alan Wertheimer, John Corvino, Cheshire Calhoun, Jerome Neu, and Alan Soble, among others. A valuable resource for sex researchers as well as undergraduate courses in the philosophy of sex.

Again proving wrong the millions who think it is all about physics, Soble (philosophy emeritus, U. of New Orleans) and Power (philosophy, U. of West Florida) bring together articles which prove such disparate concepts as phenomenology, utilitarianism and perhaps even love figure in the philosophy of sex. Contributors comment on perversion, sexual behavior, masturbation, cybersex, homosexuality, continence, same-sex marriage, sexual identity and sexual justice, the morality of using another person, consent, promiscuity, rape, pedophilia, objectification, prostitution, pornography, power and, in two non-consenting parts, Antioch's sexual offense policy. For this edition the editors include new essays from such authors as David Benatar, Raja Halwani and Pope John Paul II, introductions for all 30 articles and a bibliography expanded to over 700 entries. Annotation ©2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

This fascinating book illustrates how a philosophical approach to sexuality can illuminate various sexual phenomena: pornography, prostitution, the difference between women and men in sexual behaviors and attitudes, sadomasochism, homosexuality, masturbation, sexual perversion, and adultry. The third edition of this popular anthology of essays has been revised to expand the sections on homosexuality and sexual morality and to include essays on date rape and sexual harassment.