PHI 218: Philosophy of Sexuality

SYLLABUS:

• PHI 218 Philosophy of Sexuality (SPRING 2025) - Available in the Spring.

PRESENTATION SCHEDULE:

• PHI 218, SPRING 2026 - TTh 10:30-11:45 a.m. [Sect. XXXXX (Honors); Sect, XXXXX (Non-Honors)] - Available in the Spring.

COURSE MATERIAL:

• Lecture 1: What is Philosophy and what are Fallacies?

• St. Paul: 1 Corinthians and Jesus Passages (Students: Summarize the St. Paul and Jesus Passages) [and Bonus Passages from the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible, and NT] -- Sex, love, and marriage in the Bible

• Kant I: The Philosophy of Law -- Kant's views on the Categorical Imperative, rights, and marriage

• Kant II: Dr. Y's Notes on Kant: Lectures on Ethics -- Kant's views on sex and marriage

ARTICLE SUMMARY GUIDELINES:

• PHI 218 Article Summary Guidelines

• This is a template of how to write the first Article Summary for Plato I: Symposium: Intro Material and Symposium 172a-180c

PRESENTATION GUIDELINES, ASSISTANCE, AND EXAMPLES:

• General Guidelines on the Elements of a Presentation for PHI 218

• PHI 218, 1st Example of Presentation for Plato I: Symposium: Intro material and Symposium 172a-180c

PAPER ASSIGNMENTS (and Abbreviation Guide for Grading):

• First Paper Assignment -- Available when Dr. Y announces in class.

• Second Paper Assignment -- Available when Dr. Y announces in class.

• Third Paper Assignment -- Available when Dr. Y announces in class.

• Grading Legend - Explanations for the abbreviations on your graded papers

ADVICE ON WRITING PAPERS:

• Writing Philosophy 218 Papers

• Dr. Y's Good Paper Sample

• Dr. Y's Bad Paper Sample

• Dr. Y's Grammar Corner

• Dr. Y's Example of a Poor Introduction to your Paper (and why it is poor)

OPTIONAL COURSE MATERIAL (i.e., only look at and/or print this stuff if you're interested in it):

• Why Philosophy is Valuable, Getting a Career in Philosophy, Philosophy Major Salaries, and otherwise Intelligent People Who Bash (or Have Bashed) Philosophy and/or Philosophers

• Dr. Y's "The Importance of Philosophy: Why does philosophy matter? Why bother with it?"

• Dr. Y's List of Fallacies -- A whole bunch of fallacies: Don't commit these and point them out when others do!

• Plato's Ladder of Love Chart

• Plato on Sex in Old Age (Republic I)

• A Chart of Kant's Crimina Carnis (Bodily Crimes or Crimes of the Flesh)

• A Chart of Nagel's Sexual Perversion Means/Ends Analysis

• YouTube video: Welcome to Love & Sex: Philosophical Perspectives

• YouTube video: "The Origin of Love," by Hedwig and the Angry Inch (Aristophanes' view in the Symposium, in a song, and illustrated)

• YouTube video: Student Philosopher (School of Life): Plato's Ladder of Love (from Plato's Symposium)

• YouTube video: Crash Course Philosophy on Kant

• YouTube video: The Purpose of Sex: Masturbation, Aquinas, & New Natural Law - John Corvino

• YouTube video: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver: Sex Education

• YouTube video: The Philosophy of Oral Sex - #TheSchoolofLife

• YouTube video: Bill Maher on Falling in Love with an AI

• YouTube video: Asexuality Documentary

• YouTube video: Sex Worker -- The Truth Behind the Smile | Antoinette Welch | TEDxAntioch

• YouTube video: I've Lived as a Man & a Woman -- Here's What I Learned | Paula Stone Williams | TEDxMileHigh

• YouTube video: Wheelchair Woman Often Hears Offensive Pickup Lines

• YouTube video: What being beautiful means in 25 countries around the world | indy100

• YouTube video: National Geographic Explains the Biology of Homosexuality

• YouTube video: Martin Raff on transgender brains

• YouTube video: What does the transgender brain look like?

• President Trump's Executive Order on Male and Female

• YouTube video: Philosophy of Sex - Consent 1

• YouTube video: "Cannibal Cop" Envisioned Cutting Up, Eating Women - Crime Watch Daily With Chris Hansen (Pt 1)

• Policy Brief on "Incels" from Women in International Security

• YouTube video (humor): What “The Sex Talk” Looks Like Now - Alternatino

• Optional Extra Credit Assignments -- Available when Dr Y. announces in class.