Desire, Love, and Identity

Philosophy of Sex and Love

Gary Foster

CURRENT: The most up-to-date reader on the market includes cutting-edge pieces on topics such as BDSM, polyamory, and the ethics of sex work.
CLASSIC AND CONTEMPORARY: Presents contemporary selections alongside canonical works by major figures in the philosophy of love and sex, giving students a broad understanding of the field.
DIVERSE APPROACH: Draws on philosophers from analytic, Continental, and feminist perspectives, demonstrating to students the diversity of thought found within the philosophical study of love and sex.
ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTIONS: Distinguished Canadian and international academics explore contentious contemporary issues in the philosophy of love and sex in essays prepared expressly for this volume.
ACCESSIBLE: Carefully crafted introductions by the editor, along with key terms, lists of further readings, and questions for discussion help students personalize complex philosophical positions.

Desire, Love, and Identity

Philosophy of Sex and Love

Gary Foster

Description

Desire, Love, and Identity: Philosophy of Sex and Love combines classical readings with contemporary articles exploring love and sex as defining features of our identity. This volume includes readings from a wide variety of perspectives, addressing topics such as sexual objectification, sexual identity, the ethics of sex work, love and sex online, friendship, polyamory, and BDSM. Alongside ancient, modern, and contemporary selections are sixteen original contributions written by emerging voices in the field. A wide-ranging, engaging, accessible introduction to the subject, the text includes further readings and discussion questions to promote thought, discussion, and composition on subjects deeply intertwined with students' identities.

Desire, Love, and Identity

Philosophy of Sex and Love

Gary Foster

Full Table of Contents
Contributors
Preface
Part 1: Sex
Introduction to the Philosophy of Sex
Section 1. Sexual Desire
1. The Structure of Sexual Desire
Introduction
Jean-Paul Sartre, "Sexual Desire"
Thomas Nagel, "Sexual Perversion"
Discussion
Suggestions for Further Reading
2. The Object(s) of Sexual Desire
Introduction
Rockney Jacobsen, "Objects of Desire" (commissioned)
John Russon, "Why Sexuality Matters" (commissioned)
Discussion
Suggestions for Further Reading
3. Sex: Art or Science?
Introduction
Michel Foucault, "Scientia Sexualis"
Real Fillion, "Challenging Norms: The Co-creative Core of Erotic Life" (commissioned)
Discussion
Suggestions for Further Reading
4. Talking About Sex
Introduction
Michel Foucault, "We 'Other Victorians'"
Ada S. Jaarsma, "The Speaker's Benefit and the Case of Dan Savage" (commissioned)
Greta Cristina, "Are We Having Sex Now or What?"
Discussion
Suggestions for Further Reading
Section 2. Objectification and Sexual Identity
5. Sexual Objectification
Introduction
Immanuel Kant, "Of Duties to the Body in Regard to the Sexual Impulse"
Martha C. Nussbaum, "Objectification"
Patricia Marino, "The Ethics of Sexual Objectification: Autonomy and Consent"
Discussion
Suggestions for Further Reading
6. Sexual Identity and Gender Identity
Emily Ann Parker, "Sexual Assault as Derivatization" (commissioned)
Michael Gilbert (A.K.A. Miqqi Alicia Gilbert), "Cross-Dressing, Trans, and All Stops In-Between" (commissioned)
Discussion
Suggestions for Further Reading
Section 3. Ethics and Sexual Issues
7. The Ethics of Sex Work
Introduction
Chloe Taylor, "Sex Work and Desexualization: Foucauldian Reflections on Sex Work" (commissioned)
Julia O'Connell Davidson, "The Rights and Wrongs of Prostitution"
Discussion
Suggestions for Further Reading
8. Other Ethical Issues
Christopher Bartel, "Resolving the Gamer's Dilemma"
Yolanda Estes, "BDSM: My Apology" (commissioned)
Discussion
Suggestions for Further Reading
Part 2: Love
Introduction to the Philosophy of Love
Section 4. The Nature of Love
9. Traditions of Love
Introduction
Plato, From The Symposium: "Aristophanes' Speech" and "Socrates' Speech"
Rekha Navneet, "The Ethical and Mystical Import of Kama; Sexual/Erotic Passion in Classical Indian Tradition" (commissioned)
Discussion
Suggestions for Further Reading
10. What Is Love?
Introduction
Irving Singer, "Appraisal and Bestowal"
Glenn Parsons, "Physical Beauty and Romantic Love" (commissioned)
Discussion
Suggestions for Further Reading
11. Agape and Eros
Alan Soble, "Two Views of Love"
Harry G. Frankfurt, "On Love and Its Reasons"
Discussion
Suggestions for Further Reading
Section 5. Romantic Love
12. Love and Identity
Jean-Paul Sartre, "First Attitude toward Others: Love, Language, Masochism"
Robert C. Solomon, "Romantic Love"
Robert C. Solomon, "The Identity Theory of Love"
Discussion
Suggestions for Further Reading
13. Love and Identity in Question
Simone de Beauvoir, "The Woman in Love"
Noel Merino, "The Problem with 'We': Rethinking Joint Identity in Romantic Love"
Discussion
Suggestions for Further Reading
Section 6. Relationships and Marriage
14. Ethical Relationships
Alexis Shotwell, "Ethical Polyamory and Responsibility" (commissioned)
Lauren Bialystok, "Rethinking Justice in Intimate Relationships" (commissioned)
Discussion
Suggestions for Further Reading
15. Marriage
Introduction
Immanuel Kant, "Marriage and Monogamy"
Jill Rusin, "The Meaning of Marriage" (commissioned)
Elizabeth Brake, "Marriage for Everybody: What Is Marriage Equality?" (commissioned)
Discussion
Suggestions for Further Reading
Section 7. Friendship
16. What is Friendship?
Introduction
Aristotle, From The Nicomachean Ethics: "Friendship and Partnership"
Discussion
Suggestions for Further Reading
17. Friendship and Value
Introduction
Tony Milligan, "The Politics of Love" (commissioned)
Annette C. Baier, "How to Lose Friends"
Discussion
Suggestions for Further Reading
18. Friendship and Love Online
Introduction
Robert Sharp, "The Obstacles against Reaching the Highest Level of Aristotelian Friendship Online"
Gary Foster, "Internet Dating: Challenges to Love and Personal Identity"
Discussion
Suggestions for Further Reading
Bibliography