Moral Consequences of Sexual Promiscuity

[Bigdaddydvo]

This thread in OOT addresses a poster's disdain for emotionally detached, casual sex. The younger, shall we say "Maxim inspired" posters there can make a serious discussion of the topic problematic. I'll thus offer it up for the more erudite posters of SMP...what are the long term moral and emotional consequences, for an individual and society, of its members leading a Wilt Chamberlain-esque, sleep with anything lifestyle? (I'll leave out the physical part since it's basically axiomatic that STDs and unintentional pregnancy come with the territory).

[RJT]

Daddio,

Sorry for the quick interruption.

Phil and I are having not-too-far-off your topic discussion in the thread about Pascal’s wager. You might want to get updated on this, too. He brings up an issue that I have yet to hear of and am a bit skeptical about: Third world countries and the Church.

RJT

[Bigdaddydvo]

RJ,

I'm there...hopefully my Maker's Mark inspired reply was of some value.

BDD

[RJT]

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RJ,

I'm there...hopefully my Maker's Mark inspired reply was of some value.

BDD

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The point you made is what I had in mind. You word things better than I. (Save me the trouble, too.) Glad you picked up the ball there. Thanks,

RJT

[Lestat]

I'm not sure about the moral or emotional consequences, but from a cold hard scientific standpoint, it is the evolutionary goal of every species to advance it's own genes. That means having sex as often as possible.

On the other hand, if sex is taken too casually as a society, it can create many societal problems such as increased poverty, unwanted pregnancies, as well as a decline in quality education, and so on.

My personal opinion on the morality of it... If two consenting adults who aren't hurting anyon want to have sex, what's the problem?

Hi Lestat,
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but from a cold hard scientific standpoint, it is the evolutionary goal of every species to advance it's own genes.

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I'm not an expert here, but I am trying to apply common sense. I believe that an elaboration of your thought would be that since human females give birth so infrequently, that other than having sex with as many as possible it is also in your (own) genes best interest to prevent other males from sticking their genes into females you're attemping to put your genes into. This could be an evolutionary reason for jealousy, and if there is jealousy, there will always be moral implications to wanton promiscuity.

[Lestat]

Again, from a cold hard scientific viewpoint, I don't think the male of most species particularly cares. The goal is simply to spread his genes as many times possible through as many females possible.

Jealously comes into play because if he allows another man to impregnate a woman who has already beared his child (and caring for it), her focus is now taken away from HIS offspring at the expense of someone else's offspring.

Also remember, a woman will alway knows if the child she bear is hers, while a man can never be certain that it is his. This is another reason for male jealousy. He doesn't want to waste 9+ months of the female's best reproductive years waiting around for her to bear another man's child or nurse it for a couple of years afterward.

Some writers, I'm thinking of Robert Heinlen's "Stranger in a Strange Land", and others, such as Logans Run, have created fictional utopias where sex with everyone is the norm. No one gets jealous because everyone's doing it and child rearing is shared by society. There is also no sexual disease or population control ( Logans run dealt with this issue in a interesting manner) to worry about. When I was a kid, I thought such an environment would be Utopia, but I'm wondering if this could be so. Would humans always feel a sense of "ownership" for their mates and therefore never really go along with this sort of plan?

[benkahuna]

Societies like this one have occurred, though they were not long-lasting.

The second wave of kibbutzim in Israel which was socialist in nature had a bit of this character. Many kids were supposedly of uncertain paternity.

[BluffTHIS!]

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have created fictional utopias where sex with everyone is the norm

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There are certain groups of monkeys that do this every morning as part of the group's normal daily routine. Be a monkey.