Sexual activity or sexual act is perverse or unnatural if it does not flow naturally or does not frustrate or interfere with the natural flow of human sexual desire. For instance heterosexual is morally good if it is between two consenting adults or for the married couples, but for cases of rape and adultery is morally bad and therefore it is perverse. Both natural and unnatural sexual acts could be dangerous and psychologically risk so it cannot be assumed that all natural sexual intercourse are more safe than the unnatural sex intercourse. For instance unprotected heterosexual intercourse would be more risk compared to mutual homosexual masturbation, although the later is perverse. According to Nagel, Sex is an appetite just like an appetite for food or thirst for water and we have to sate it in a variety of ways, because sex is a reciprocal activity, it is a relation between two people. He is arguing that sexual acts are perverse if they have not met the requirements for normal sex (8). Nagel seems to suggest that, homosexuality is hardly a perverse sexual act because it involves to two people with complete communication, or what can be argued as two consenting adults of the same sex. In my opinion this would include perverse sexual activity. As long as sexual intercourse of not geared towards procreation or within the confines of marriage, it will be a perverse sexual act (12).
Masturbation
Nagel does not mention masturbation as one of sexual perverse, but some sexual liberals claim that the function of sex is enjoyment and all forms of sexual activity are all valid. Sexual liberals believe that individuals should be free to pursue any form of gratification to the fullest without any limitation. Such limitless pursuit of personal desires can be destructive. The argument put across here is that all is just fine as long as it finally ends in enjoyment. Studies have shown that any act of masturbation will always involve some imagined partner or other types of fantasies and this shows that there is something more to sex than just deriving pleasure, there is something significant to it. Therefore, the idea of associating the act of masturbation with something else or with somebody would make it a perverse action ( Soble 46) .
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Voyeurism:
Is a compulsive behavior of seeking sexual gratification through observing naked bodies or sexual acts of others from a vantage and secrete point. Pornography may be categorized a voyeuristic content and therefore it is a perverse sexual act. Pornography has been criticized and shrouded in controversy throughout its existence. It is viewed as vulgar and extremely degrading to women as they portray women as sex toys. There is a negative perception to people who masturbate to porn and are mostly seen as perverts. Those who participate in the act are seen as prostitutes or sluts. The counter arguments always put forward is that, participants are exercising their freewill and besides, they are happy with what they are doing. However, the contents of porn are dehumanizing and extremely inappropriate, it is far from being an art as some proponents claim. Extreme acts of porn are very dangerous and could lead to long-term harmful effects that could not be reversed. Most porn actions do not have a story line or any emotional connection to sexual encounter and does not encourage a person as primary source of satisfaction these could have a profound effect to the young who are learning basics of relationship or life in marriage. Young people getting exposure to porn early in life will affect their social skills and especially on how to establish a lasting relationships. Sexual activity according to Plato is not either bad or good, but it serves an important role of procreation between a man and a woman. Plato was referring sex in the context of marriage and was not addressing perversion of sex. In fact it can be deduced from Plato’s arguments that sexual activity outside marriage is not good ( Scruton, 285) .
Fetishism
Fetishism is a sexual perversion where an individual has strong sexual urges associated with nonliving objects. An individual would become sexually aroused by wearing a certain cloth or shoe. Fetishism comes in different forms and may involve a man fondling a woman’s underwear while masturbating. According to Aquinas such actions will not result to procreation because the sperms are ejaculated to wrong place, and therefore it is a perverse act. On the other hand, Nagel would say such acts are perverse because there is no possibility of one person noticing and getting aroused by the arousal of another person or a breakdown in communication. Extreme fetishism is associated with some childhood experiences which had a powerful form of arousal or a cause of trauma. Most of extreme fetishists have poorly developed social skills and they appear isolated with inability to establish a meaningful intimacy . Fetishism associated with males may be as a result of deprived social or sexual contacts or even a doubt of masculinity from the fetishist. Even fear of rejection would drive an individual sexual satisfaction from nonliving objects as a solace. It follows therefore that, fetishism is a disorder or a condition that needs to be attended by a specialist through counseling or medication to reverse or control the disorder ( Halwani 145) .
Exhibitionism
This is another form of sexual pervasion that is interesting and shocking at the same time. It involves an individual exposing one’s genitals to stranger and deriving sexual gratification from the act. It is a sexual perverse because one gets sexual satisfaction gratification through personal exposure to inappropriate partners. A typical exhibitionist would involve a male exposing himself to a young girl who is a stranger. An exhibitionist would masturbate or fantasize while masturbating and expose himself without any further approach for sexual activity with the stranger. Under this case the exhibitionist is aware of his desire to frighten the victim and sometimes may fantasize the observer would be sexually aroused. This perverse social behavior can affect a relationship if one partner does not cooperate on certain sexual preference and could even lead to conflict with society. Exhibitionism like other sexual perversions is categorized under sexual psychiatric sexual disorders of paraphilia. Usually an exhibitionist would receive treatment after being caught by the authorities and they are forced to undergo treatment which would include counseling and drugs ( Scruton 297) .
Sexual Sadism
This is a tendency by an individual to derive pleasure and sexual gratification from humiliating or inflicting pain or suffering on others. This type of perversion is also categorized as paraphilia and is characterized by an erotic instinct where the suffering of the victim would lead to lead to intense arousal to the point of orgasm ( Soble 57) . The suffering that gives sexual pleasure is not imagined, but real physical pain or psychological torture. The type of sadistic actions would vary from mild humiliation to the extreme actions of murder. The mild case would take a form of urinating on the victim, and would always reflect the desire for sexual domination over another person. Other types of sexual acts that would be classified as perverse include masochism which is a disorder that an individual derive sexual gratification from inflicting harm or injury upon himself. Such sexual perversion could be treated as well. Bestiality is a perverse act of having sex with animals.
Works Cited
Halwani, Raja. Philosophy of Love, Sex, and Marriage: An Introduction. London: Routledge. 2010. Print.
Scruton, Roger. Sexual Desire: A Philosophical Investigation . A&C Black. London: 2006. Print
Soble, Alan. Philosophy of Sexuality. Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. n.d. Web 7 th May, 2016. http://www.iep.utm.edu/sexualit/
Nagel, Thomas. Sexual Perversion. The Journal of Philosophy. Vol. 66, No. 1 (Jan. 16, 1969), pp. 5-17.
