Of Sexual Irregularities, and Other Writings on Sexual Morality: M C (The Collected Works of Jeremy Bentham) - Hardcover

 
9780199685189: Of Sexual Irregularities, and Other Writings on Sexual Morality: M C (The Collected Works of Jeremy Bentham)
Hardcover
ISBN 10: 0199685185 ISBN 13: 9780199685189
Publisher: OUP Oxford, 2014

Synopsis

The present volume contains three essays, 'Of Sexual Irregularities', 'Sextus', and 'General Idea of Not Paul, but Jesus', written in the mid-1810s but never before been published in authoritative form. Bentham presents the utilitarian case for sexual liberty on the grounds that the gratification of the sexual appetite constituted the purest form of pleasure, in opposition to the traditional Christian view that the only morally acceptable form of sexual activity was between one man and one woman, within the confines of marriage, for the purpose of procreation. Bentham offers classical Greece and Rome, where certain male same-sex relationships were regarded as normal, as alternative models of sexual morality, condemns the hostile portrayal of homosexuals in eighteenth-century literature, and calls for the removal of sanctions, whether imposed by religion, law, or public opinion, from all forms of consensual sexual activity, at least in so far as practised in private. Bentham was, moreover, persuaded by Malthus's argument that population growth tended to outstrip food supply. In these circumstances, non-procreative sexual activity had the additional benefit of not contributing to an increase in the size of the population. In the course of his discussion, Bentham expresses forthright views on various aspects of sexuality.

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

About the Author


Philip Schofield is Director and General Editor of the Bentham Project and Professor of the History of Legal and Political Thought, University College London.

Catherine Pease-Watkin is Research Associate, Bentham Project, University College London

Michael Quinn is Research Associate, Bentham Project, University College London

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

Publisher
OUP Oxford
Publication date
2014
Language
English
ISBN 10 
0199685185
ISBN 13 
9780199685189
Binding
Hardcover
Number of pages
212
Editor
Schofield Philip, Pease-Watkin Catherine, Quinn Michael