Explorations In Love And Sex

Beginning with a discussion of Kant, Schopenhauer, and others about the morality of sex and the morality of compassion, Explorations in Love and Sex offers a panoramic view of the philosophy of love from its beginnings in Plato up to the present. It examines the nature and limitations of sexual pluralism, and elaborates on Irving Singer's earlier ideas about appraisal and bestowal. The book's chapters are both philosophical and historical, and speak to general readers who wish to better understand the curious set of emotions called love.

Younger star and LGBTQIA+ advocate Nico Tortorella investigates love, sex, gender, addiction, family, fame, and fluidity through their personal story and the lens of their nonbinary identity “Nico Tortorella embodies the twenty-first-century human.”—RuPaul Nico Tortorella is a seeker. Raised on a steady regimen of Ram Dass and raw food, they have always been interested in the more spiritual aspects of life. That is, until the desire for fame and fortune eclipsed their journey toward enlightenment and sent them into a downward spiral of addiction and self-destructive behavior. It wasn’t until Nico dug deep and began to examine the fluidity of both their sexuality and gender identity that they became more comfortable in their own skin, got sober from alcohol, entered into an unconventional marriage with the love of their life, and fully embraced a queer lifestyle that afforded them the opportunity to explore the world outside the gender binary. It was precisely in that space between that Nico encountered the diverse community of open-minded, supportive peers they’d always dreamed of having. Expanding on themes explored on their popular podcast, The Love Bomb, Nico shares the intimate details of their romantic partnerships, the dysfunction of their loud but loving Italian family, and the mingling of their feminine and masculine identities into one multidimensional, sexually fluid, nonbinary individual. Nico has become a leading voice of the fluidity movement by encouraging open dialogue and universal acceptance. Space Between is at once an education for readers, a manifesto for both the labeled and label-free generations, and a personal memoir of love, identity, and acceptance. Praise for Space Between “In an industry that thrives on artifice, Nico Tortorella’s candid soul-searching is precious and invigorating. As with the best truth-telling, it gives language to a thirst we had forgotten, while also quenching it. This is a book about addiction, familial trauma, and gender—yes—but more so it is about living. Living is an art form that Nico does well, and this book is an argument for making meaning from the messiness that surrounds us rather than simply muting it. Nico’s distinct and relatable prose tangos us past binaries, toward an intimacy beyond language.”—Alok Vaid-Menon

"This wonderfully written book inspired by real-life issues throws light on the challenges we face in our relationships and the perils of modern society. It explores shades of human nature and why we behave, in ways detrimental to our well being." Neil's asexual marriage troubles him. Sylvia, a divorcee wants nothing to do with men. When their paths cross, each finds a soulmate in the other. Yet due to the forces of nature, they feel compelled to part ways so that the other can find happiness. Neil is on a journey to understand himself, and how he fits into the female sexual realm. His dilemma as he cruises through life has been brought to light as 'Men do not talk about their issues.' Sylvia is on a journey to understand love and happiness and when faced with her friend's mortality to discover the 'True Purpose of Life.' Quotes from the book: "Men rarely shared their emotions with others. They discuss their conquests but not their failures." "Inundated by the success stories splashed all over, most of us lesser mortals walked on this earth in a state of dereliction.""Somewhere we are not only capable of drowning our partner's best but also bringing out the worse."The purpose of this book is to bust the confusion and myth surrounding love, sex, and happiness. We are moving away from our core in pursuit of larger-than-life fantasies flashed at us, thus creating havoc in our minds and living with an understated dissatisfaction. This book reflects on why the best life is not about big cars and big houses but something deeper and meaningful. To understand what that is, please read the book. From the author: As a physician, I began counseling my patients more than prescribing medications. This novel hints at solutions to stay happy in marriage, to heal relationships and to attain the one element the human mind needs to find happiness. Through the journey of Sylvia and Neil, this book helps to figure out the most important ingredient for success without which even the richest of the rich remain poor. My hope for you as a reader is that you will be able to connect with some of the stories narrated in this book. If this book helps you in some way, my purpose would be met.

Who do we love? Who loves us? And why? Is love really a mystery, or can neuroscience offer some answers to these age-old questions? In her third enthralling book about the brain, Judith Horstman takes us on a lively tour of our most important sex and love organ and the whole smorgasbord of our many kinds of love-from the bonding of parent and child to the passion of erotic love, the affectionate love of companionship, the role of animals in our lives, and the love of God. Drawing on the latest neuroscience, she explores why and how we are born to love-how we're hardwired to crave the companionship of others, and how very badly things can go without love. Among the findings: parental love makes our brain bigger, sex and orgasm make it healthier, social isolation makes it miserable-and although the craving for romantic love can be described as an addiction, friendship may actually be the most important loving relationship of your life. Based on recent studies and articles culled from the prestigious Scientific American and Scientific American Mind magazines, The Scientific American Book of Love, Sex, and the Brain offers a fascinating look at how the brain controls our loving relationships, most intimate moments, and our deep and basic need for connection.

With twenty-five essays, seven of which are new to the eighth edition, this best-selling volume examines the nature, morality, and social meanings of contemporary sexual phenomena. Topics include: sexual desire and activity, masturbation, Sexual orientation, asexuality, transgender issues, Zoophilia, rape, casual sex and promiscuity, love and sex, polyamory, sexual consent, sexual, perversion, sexual ethics, objectification, BDSM, sex and technology, sex and race, and sex work. Updated and new discussion questions offer students starting points for debate in both the classroom and the bedroom.

A philosophical primer designed for the general reader as well as professionals in various fields, this book studies sex in itself and in its relation to love and compassion. It distinguishes between 'sensuous' and 'passionate' elements of sexuality and shows how sex in human beings is both appetitive and interpersonal. It then explores the ways in which our sexuality is always subject to aesthetic and moral valuation in relation to the appetitive and interpersonal coordinates.

"Here, in a break from traditional philosophical views of sex and love, Russell Vannoy presents a radical defense of sexual enjoyment without love. Vannoy argues that truly humanistic and fulfilling sex is found only when it is enjoyed for its own sake and it is divorced from traditional forms of love. The book contains insightful analyses of the philosophies of Sartre, Freud, Schopenhauer, Reich, Nagel, de Sade, and others." -- back cover.

Love, sex, and marriage are changing faster than ever before in human history. The current tidal wave of social changes will continue into the next century, and we will have to adapt our sexual values and relationships to these accelerating changes. These 22 honest, authentic stories tell of the unconventional paths pioneering church leaders and spiritually-aware women and men have taken in their quest to link their sexuality with their spiritual needs. Some might see in these unorthodox explorations only tales of promiscuous couplings. But these are not stories of wild thrill-seekers. These are tales told from the core of their being about their deeply felt need for genuine, responsible love and intimacy within a spiritual context. Their journeys do not promise paradise or instant happiness, as popular magazines do with recipes for lifelong marital bliss and fiery passion. These sojourners have much to teach us, even when we decide that this or that path is not for us. Their individual paths are not nearly as important as the simple message of God and Eros being inseparable that underlies journey. God and Eros can come together in many different relationships. And they must come together if we want to nourish and fulfill the divine spark at the core of our being. These women and men challenge our assumptions and our willingness to adapt to our radically changing world.