“My short answer is that, while obviously we need to acknowledge the interesting fact that throughout the ages, same-sex activity has had many different relatively local sociocultural meanings and names, it wasn’t invented in the 20th century.”
The late 19th.
The late 19th.
https://twitter.com/BlanchardPhD/status/1394774365296865288
The category of “homosexual” really is, I think, a contingent historical creation, and its deconstruction is welcome.
It’s a metaphysical reinterpretation of the act of sodomy. Foucault was actually half-right about this.
It’s a metaphysical reinterpretation of the act of sodomy. Foucault was actually half-right about this.
“Strictly speaking, a sexual orientation should be understood in terms of the sex(es) you would be sexually attracted to under relatively self-aware, uncoerced, uninhibited circumstances, and not necessarily who you actually are attracted to right now.” ⬇︎
“A sexual orientation is for life, not just for Christmas parties.”
See? There’s a whole philosophical anthropology and metaphysics built in here.
See? There’s a whole philosophical anthropology and metaphysics built in here.
Suppose there were no such thing as a “sexual orientation,” but only a pattern of ethical and natural desire, and beside that, disordered desire, including stable disorders of desire, i.e. perversions.
It would be rather more difficult to ground one’s “identity” on what is a disorder and a perversion, definitionally a kind of defect and a morally blameworthy one at that.
A good way to see this is to compare homosexuality with pedophilia.
What is the difference here QUA the kind of thing each is? Why doesn't pedophilia count as a “sexual orientation”? (This needs to be answered even if you think you can cache it out so pedophilia is immoral.)
What is the difference here QUA the kind of thing each is? Why doesn't pedophilia count as a “sexual orientation”? (This needs to be answered even if you think you can cache it out so pedophilia is immoral.)
“Waahhhhhh! You can’t compare homosexuality and pedophilia!”
Why not? How are they different QUA “being sexual orientations”?
“Pedophilia isn’t an orientation!”
Why not? That’s not what the pedophiles say. Who are you to question the lived experience of a marginalized group?
Why not? How are they different QUA “being sexual orientations”?
“Pedophilia isn’t an orientation!”
Why not? That’s not what the pedophiles say. Who are you to question the lived experience of a marginalized group?
“Pedophilia is morally wrong and homosexuality is not!”
That depends on what they are, doesn’t it? If pedophilia *is* an orientation, it is only wrong to *act* on it.
Do you want an orientation/act distinction?
I’m all for that!
That depends on what they are, doesn’t it? If pedophilia *is* an orientation, it is only wrong to *act* on it.
Do you want an orientation/act distinction?
I’m all for that!
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