The Purposes of Sex in Humans...

[Sunstone]

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?

 

[Gjallarhorn]

Objective purpose is paradoxical so saying anything can be more objective just doesn't seem to compute.

 

[Revoltingest]

Purpose is solely in the mind of the participant, who
might or might not be able to objectively rank priorities.

 

[Amechania]

Would using sex to obtain items of value be classified under expressing dominance or miscellaneous?

 

[Sunstone]

Would using sex to obtain items of value be classified under expressing dominance or miscellaneous?

That's a good one. I'd call that miscellaneous.

 

[Penumbra]

Sex is basically what humans make of it, which is heavily influenced by evolution. Most of those on the list seem very important, and most of those are not unique to humans (like the sex lives of bonobos make us look like prudes).

One can point to biological facts too, like how the clitoris is entirely a pleasure-organ. A woman's orgasm is not necessary for reproduction, and the clitoris is generally not really directly stimulated from penetrative sex and instead requires more deliberate external stimulation. And, unlike a lot of species, women show few or no signs of being at a reproductive part of her cycle. Many female animals clearly announce in some visible or olfactory way that they are currently in heat, but human women have concealed ovulation.

 

[Gehennaite]

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.

2-6 could just be summed up as "pleasure". To me, that is the sole purpose of sexuality - to provide you with a source of pleasure. Sexuality is one of the few pleasures in existence, even if all you experience from it is masturbation...

And I disagree with 1) because I am attracted to effeminate individuals of the same gender. Reproduction is a moot side point for heterosexuals and I would never be bothered to seek sexuality for that purpose.

 

[ChristineES]

I think most people do it because it feels good. All those other things are important to certain people at certain times but if those were the only purposes, then people wouldn't seek it out so diligently with strangers.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

I think most people do it because it feels good.

I think you've hit the nail on the head. It seems the primary purpose of sex is to feel pleasure.

 

[Sunstone]

2-6 could just be summed up as "pleasure".

Summed up by who? Procrustes?

 

[Sunstone]

2-6 could just be summed up as "pleasure". To me, that is the sole purpose of sexuality - to provide you with a source of pleasure. Sexuality is one of the few pleasures in existence, even if all you experience from it is masturbation...

And I disagree with 1) because I am attracted to effeminate individuals of the same gender. Reproduction is a moot side point for heterosexuals and I would never be bothered to seek sexuality for that purpose.

You don't seem to possess a firm grasp of what I was saying in the OP.

 

[Sunstone]

I think most people do it because it feels good. All those other things are important to certain people at certain times but if those were the only purposes, then people wouldn't seek it out so diligently with strangers.

"Purpose" is a distinct concept from how we experience something.

 

[dust1n]

Hmmm... it's a particular difficult question because of the word "purpose." That seems to imply a consciousness effort on behalf of another things that might be appropriate. Is there another word you can use synonymously, so that I might better grasp the question? Are we talking about the purposes individuals use to achieve sex. Does it matter whether they might be accurate or not?

 

[Kilgore Trout]

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).

 

[Sunstone]

Hmmm... it's a particular difficult question because of the word "purpose." That seems to imply a consciousness effort on behalf of another things that might be appropriate. Is there another word you can use synonymously, so that I might better grasp the question? Are we talking about the purposes individuals use to achieve sex. Does it matter whether they might be accurate or not?

"Purpose" here means the conscious reason someone might have for doing something. I am not talking about the underlying evolutionary reasons for sex. In evolutionary terms, sex isn't even about reproduction -- at least, not ultimately. Ultimately, sex is about the "arms race" between and organism and its foes, especially its diseases and parasites. We'd all be reproducing asexually if that wasn't the case.

In the OP, I am merely arguing that humans in general have several uses or purposes for sex. I am not arguing that any particular human -- that you, for instance -- have any particular use or purpose for sex. Rather humans in general seem to use sex in a variety of ways. I think that point is obvious.

Second, I am arguing in the OP that no purpose is objectively greater or more legitimate than any other purpose. For instance, there is nothing about reproduction that says we must value it as above other uses or purposes we might have for sex.

It is true that, biologically, our line would die out without reproduction. But that is merely a fact, not a value judgement as to whether it's a good thing or a bad thing for our line to be perpetuated.

In short, the person who uses sex for consolation has just as great a purpose for sex as the person who uses sex for reproduction.

My argument is an attack on the notion that reproductive sex can be objectively said to be more important, more primary, of greater value, or more legitimate than sex for any other purpose.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

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.

Do you equate 'entertainment' with pleasure? Also, it seems to me that reconciliation is a subset of bonding. No?

 

[Sunstone]

Do you equate 'entertainment' with pleasure?

A desire for entertainment can be motivated by a desire for pleasure, I think, but it is not necessarily so. Imagine, perhaps, someone whose present motive in having sex is to escape boredom.

Also, it seems to me that reconciliation is a subset of bonding. No?

Good point.

 

[methylatedghosts]

8) one of the many expressions of love

While kind of covered by your #2, I think it is different, in that sex creates or perhaps strengthens a bond between two people, it is also a way to express that bond when it already exists.

 

[bobhikes]

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?

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.

 

[methylatedghosts]

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.

It's broken?