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Center for Curriculum and Transfer Articulation
Philosophy of Sexuality
Course: PHI218

First Term: 2025 Fall
 Lecture   3.0 Credit(s)   3.0 Period(s)   3.0 Load  
Subject Type: Academic
Load Formula: S - Standard Load


Description: Philosophical examination of sexuality in human life. Historical and critical survey of philosophical and theological views from Greeks, Christianity, and Kant. Includes examinations of gender identity, sexual orientation, monogamy, polyamory, autoeroticism, (bondage and discipline, dominance and submission, sadism and masochism) (BDSM), and sex and technology.



MCCCD Official Course Competencies
1. Evaluate key philosophers and theologians who have treated the subject of sexuality. (I)
2. Describe the views of key philosophers and theologians through written or oral work designed to emphasize the historical development of topics in the philosophy of sexuality. (II)
3. Evaluate different theories related to sexuality through written or oral work. (II, III)
4. Apply principles of philosophy and ethics to contemporary questions and issues related to human sexuality that create innovative solutions to perennial issues in sexuality. (II, III)
MCCCD Official Course Competencies must be coordinated with the content outline so that each major point in the outline serves one or more competencies. MCCCD faculty retains authority in determining the pedagogical approach, methodology, content sequencing, and assessment metrics for student work. Please see individual course syllabi for additional information, including specific course requirements.
 
MCCCD Official Course Outline
I. Historical background: philosophers on sexuality
   A. Ancient Greek philosophers
      1. Socrates (in the Symposium)
      2. Plato (in the Symposium)
   B. Christianity`s views of love, sex, and marriage
      1. St. Paul
      2. Jesus
      3. St. Augustine
      4. Aquinas
      5. Kant
II. The Metaphysics of sexuality
   A. What is sex?
      1. Christina
      2. Goldman
   B. What is perversion?
      1. Nagel
      2. Gray
III. The Morality of sexuality
   A. Gender identity
      1. Gender differences
      2. Gender-based speech
      3. Transgenderism and cisgenderism
      4. Non-binary persons
   B. Sexual orientation
      1. Heterosexuality
      2. Homosexuality
      3. Asexuality
   C. Monogamy, marriage, and polyamory
      1. Casual sex
      2. Promiscuity
      3. Polyamory and polygamy
   D. Prostitution
   E. Autoeroticism
   F. Consent
   G. Bondage and discipline, dominance and submission, sadism and masochism (BDSM)
   H. Sex and technology
      1. Sexting
      2. Sex robots
 
MCCCD Governing Board Approval Date: December 10, 2024

All information published is subject to change without notice. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information presented, but based on the dynamic nature of the curricular process, course and program information is subject to change in order to reflect the most current information available.