PHI 3012:
PHILOSOPHY OF SEX & LOVE
Professor: Dr. Jason Waller
Office: Coleman Hall 3734
Email:
Text:(765)-586-6894
Lecture: MW 3:30 – 4:45
Room: Coleman Hall 2721
Office Hours: T 4:00 – 7:00; W 12:00 – 2:00
Required Tests
- Raja Halwani, Philosophy of Love, Sex, and Marriage: An Introduction.
- Alan Sobel et al. The Philosophy of Sex: Contemporary Readings
Course Description
This course examines the meaning and nature of sex and love. The goal is to help students reflect on how to live out their own sexuality while gaining empathy for other views. We will examine contemporary debates concerning the nature of romantic love, sexual fantasies, casual sex, consent theory, the purpose(s) of sex, what it means to “use” someone, masturbation, objectification, sadomasochism, pornography, homosexuality, marriage, and many other topics. WI
Course Objectives
- Develop one’s own views on the meaning and nature of human sexuality.
- Develop sympathy for other views on sexuality.
- Develop more sophisticated moral reasoning related to sexuality.
- Develop critical thinking skills.
- Develop clear writings skills.
Course Requirements
Reading Quizzes / Participation25% of Final Grade
Midterm Take-Home Exam25% of Final Grade
Final Take-Home Exam25% of Final Grade
Research Paper25% of Final Grade
Reading Quizzes / Participation
There will be some number of “pop” quizzes during the semester. The questions for these quizzes will be answered in the readings assigned for that day’s class. **The quizzes are open note.** So please take notes when you read! You will answer the questions on your own paper, so please bring some blank paper to class. On other days I will take attendance (but not every class) or we may do an in class assignment. Attending class regularly having done the reading is one third of your final grade.
I also expect you to participate in class. This means paying attention, being respectful of other people’s ideas or comments, not dominating conversation, etc.
Exams
There will be two exams in this class. Both exams will be essay take-home exams.
Research Paper
25% of your final paper will be a research paper. This paper is to be 5-7 pages long and concern some topic related to the philosophy of sex and love. This paper is to have a clear thesis, argument for the thesis, and respond to objections. It is your responsibility to develop a thesis and write this paper. It will be due in the second half of the semester. More details will be given later in the semester.
Attendance Policy
You are expected to be in class each day having read the material assigned for that day. If you cannot make it to class for some reason, then please email and if we have a quiz or class assignment that day, then you will be excused from it. If you do not contact me before class (baring unusual circumstances, of course), then you get a 0 on the quiz or assignment if we have one.
Professionalism
Because talking about sex can be uncomfortable we must be extra careful to maintain proper boundaries and professionalism. While developing your views on the nature and meaning of sex and romantic love is the central goal of this class, I must ask you to please avoidoverly personal information in class and in office hours.
I am more than happy to talk with you about different philosophies of sexuality and romantic love, but I cannot talk to you about your individual sexual experiences or help you with your particular romantic quandaries. You will have to have these conversations with your friends, pastors, parents, and therapists. My job is to help you think clearly about sexuality and romantic love in general—you will have to do the work of applying this information to your own particular circumstances.
Contacting the Professor
You have three ways of contacting me. First, you can stop by my office hours. Second, you can email me. Third, you can send me a text. Here are some general guidelines regarding contacting me:
If you cannot make it to class for some reason and want to be excused, please send me an email. Do not text.
If there is some kind of emergency that I need to know about, you have a quick question, or you wish to set up an appointment please feel free to text or email.
Please note that if the question you ask is answered in this syllabus, then I will likely not respond to you. So please check the syllabus before you contact me.
Contacting You
Throughout the semester I will send you emails in case a class needs to be canceled for some reason or if the reading assignment changes. Please keep on top of these emails.
Academic Integrity
Students are expected to maintain principles of academic integrity
and conduct as defined in EIU’s Code of Conduct (
Violations will be reported to the Office of Student Standards
Students with Disabilities
If you are a student with a documented disability in need of accommodations to fully
participate in this class, please contact the Office of Student Disability Services (OSDS). All accommodations must be approved through OSDS. Please stop by Ninth Street Hall, Room 2006, or call 217-581-6583 to make an appointment.
The Student Success Center
Students who are having difficulty achieving their academic goals are encouraged to
contact the Student Success Center ( for assistance with time management, test taking, note taking, avoiding procrastination, setting goals, and other skills to support academic achievement. The Student Success Center provides individualized consultations. To make an appointment, call 217-581-6696 or go to 9th Street Hall, Room 1302.
No Class On:
5 September (Labor Day)
21 - 23 November (Thanksgiving Break)
**Reading Assignments**
This reading schedule is only a rough outline. We may skip around, add things, skip articles, etc. But this is an outline of the material that I would like to cover this semester.
Introduction: Thinking Clearly About Sex and Love
Separating Myths from Reality
Three Kinds of Questions: Definitions, Social Norms, Morality
Analytical Categories
Professionalism and Boundaries
Unit I: Defining ‘Sex,’ ‘Sexual Desire,’ and ‘Sexual Orientation’
I.1. “What is Sex?” (Halwani: 123-153)
I.2. “Are We Having Sex Now or What?” (Sobel: 25-32.)
I.3. “Plain Sex” (Sobel: 57-76)
I.4. “Sex in the Head” (Sobel: 101-122)
I.5. “Chatting is Not Cheating” (Sobel: 123-142)
I.6. “What is ‘Sexual Orientation’?” (Sobel: 195-214)
Unit II: Sexual Objectification, Sexual Use, Casual Sex, and Consent
II.1. “Sexual Objectification” (Halwani: 186-226)
II.2. “Why ‘Derivatization’ Is Better Than ‘Objectification’” (Sobel: 335-358)
II.3. “On Fucking Around” (Sobel: 441-460)
II.4. “Sexual Morality and the Concept of Using …”(Sobel: 271-290)
II.5. “Sexual Exploitation and the Value of Persons” (Sobel: 291-300)
II.6. “Sexual Use” (Sobel: 301-334)
II.7. “How Bad is Rape?” (Sobel: 485-502)
II.8. “Consent and Sexual Relations” (Sobel: 359-386)
II.9. “The Harms of Consensual Sex” (Sobel: 387-394)
Unit III: Pornography, Sexual Fantasies, and Masturbation
III.1. “Pornography as Embodied Practice” (Sobel: 521-538)
III.2. “Cheap Thrills: A Call for More Pornography” (Sobel: 539-558)
III.3. “On Jacking Off, Yet Again” (Sobel: 77-100)
III.4. “Sexual Perversion and Fantasy” (Halwani: 227-256)
III.5. “Sexual Perversion” (Sobel: 33-46)
III.6. “Whose Been Sleeping in Your Head?” (Handout)
Unit IV: RomanticLove and Marriage
IV.1. “What is Love?” (Halwani: 7-28)
IV.2. “Romantic Love” (Halwani: 29-56)
IV.3. “The Basis of Romantic Love” (Halwani: 57-88)
IV.4. “Pruss on Christian Sexual Ethics” (Handout)
IV.5. “What is Marriage?” (Halwani: 259-274)
Unit V: Homosexuality, Transgender Issues, and Gender Identity
V.1. “Bisexual Marriage” (Sobel: 215-232)
V.2. “Controversies over Same-Sex Marriage” (Halwani: 275-312)
V.3. “Trans Women and the Meaning of ‘Woman’” (Sobel: 233-250)
V.4. “Trans Persons, Cisgender Persons, and Gender …” (Sobel: 251-270)
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