The Purposes of Sex in Humans...

[Sunstone]

The only one that is necessary is Reproduction all the others can be satisfied in many different ways. There are many people that live a fulfilled sexless existence. They successfully do all the other things without using sex. Until science gets a little better the only thing sex is needed for is reproduction. Once science fixes that little issue we can just get rid of sex all together.

Is that your sly way of saying you didn't read the OP with understanding?

 

[Penumbra]

Yeah, I think it depends on the context. From the standpoint of nature/evolution/biology, the primary "purpose" of sex is for the continuation of life. From the standpoint of humans, the primary "purpose" of sex is to fulfill the sexual urge (which expresses through pleasure).

I think you're oversimplifying nature/evolution/biology there, though.

There are many animals, including many mammals, where the mating window each year is pretty small, and the male and female just have sex during that small window of time and then pretty much go separate ways. That's about as close as can be to the primary purpose of sex being for life.

But for some species including bonobos and humans, sex is used in a much broader way than just that. Humans in particular have concealed ovulation, so we're available for sex (physically) even during infertile times. Sex is used by humans and bonobos for all sorts of purposes (generally pleasure-related) for bonding, reconciliation, and other things. So when it's unfolded in more detail it looks like what the OP said.

 

[bobhikes]

Is that your sly way of saying you didn't read the OP with understanding?

No I understood the OP fine. You realize that the only necessity for sex is if you wish to reproduce all others are not necessary. They may of may not do for people what you say they do. For example Reconciliation, Domination and Consolation I find insulting even as subjective influences. I would never use sex in that manner. Just because you want to list these uses as valid reasons for sex doesn't mean they are. So if you asking for subjective ranking I can only rank reproduction without taking the thread off course.

We would need another thread to talk about the validity of sex for your uses.

 

[Sunstone]

...Reconciliation, Domination and Consolation I find insulting even as subjective influences. I would never use sex in that manner. Just because you want to list these uses as valid reasons for sex doesn't mean they are.

On what basis, other than subjective whim, do you have for your position?

 

[bobhikes]

On what basis, other than subjective whim, do you have for your position?

So you believe your choices are all objective? I don't see them that way and that is based on my experiences and education, which is limited but its all I have.

 

[Sunstone]

So you believe your choices are all objective?

Nope. That's not at all what I believe.

 

[MysticSang'ha]

It seems to me that sex is used for a variety of purposes by humans. For instance:

1) Reproduction.

2) Bonding.

3) Reconciliation, such as after a disagreement or fight.

4) To express dominance. At least, in some animals, one way dominance is expressed is through sex and I wouldn't be surprised if something along the same lines doesn't happen now and then in humans.

5) Consolation. Seems to me it's frequently used to console people.

6) Entertainment. The importance of which should perhaps not be discounted.

7) And perhaps miscellaneous other uses, as well.

Now, it does not seem possible to me to objectively rank the importance of these uses. Any ranking of them must to some extent be subjective. Even if you were to say that reproduction is the most important use because it leads to the survival of the species, you are making a subjective judgment that the survival of the species is more important than, say, any of the other purposes of sex in humans.

But what do you think? Are any of these purposes or uses for sex objectively more important than any others? Why or why not?

I vote for pleasure.

It can be had whether male ejaculation occurs or not during a sexual encounter. I guess it all depends on how someone qualifies an act as "sex." The reproductive bias that is brought up with folks is the necessity of a penis ejaculating to place the definitive stamp of "sex" on the act. All other actions are unnecessary or extraneous to what apparently really truly matters in these debates.

Apparently. Which is funny.

 

[Smart_Guy]

Hmm, I believe the only two valid good reasons to have sex are to reproduce and to fulfill the sexual instinct!

I think everything else is miscellaneous!

Just this poor never-had-sex 31-year-old's 2 cents!

 

[Kilgore Trout]

I think you're oversimplifying nature/evolution/biology there, though.

There are many animals, including many mammals, where the mating window each year is pretty small, and the male and female just have sex during that small window of time and then pretty much go separate ways. That's about as close as can be to the primary purpose of sex being for life.

But for some species including bonobos and humans, sex is used in a much broader way than just that. Humans in particular have concealed ovulation, so we're available for sex (physically) even during infertile times. Sex is used by humans and bonobos for all sorts of purposes (generally pleasure-related) for bonding, reconciliation, and other things. So when it's unfolded in more detail it looks like what the OP said.

Of course, most of these things fit into pair-bonding, which, evolutionarily speaking, is a way of bonding mates, which improves the odds of offspring surviving. So, broken down, from an evolutionary perspective, sex serves the propagataion and survival of a species.

 

[CynthiaCypher]

Sex can be a means by which people can achieve communion with God, it can be a form of prayer and meditation.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Sex can be a means by which people can achieve communion with God,

Yeah, if they're having sex with me.

 

[CynthiaCypher]

Yeah, if they're having sex with me.

You wish.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

You wish.

In fact, it's often been more of a pain than a pleasure being a sex god. Women get so clingy after you give them eight orgasms.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

Sex can be a means by which people can achieve communion with God, it can be a form of prayer and meditation.

Or a communion between gods in the flesh.