Philosophy of sex

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Philosophy of sex is an aspect of applied philosophy involved with the study of sex and love. It includes both ethics of phenomena such as prostitution, rape, sexual harassment, sexual identity, the age of consent, homosexuality, and conceptual analysis of more universal questions such as "what is sex?" It also includes matters of sexuality and sexual identity and the ontological status of gender. Leading contemporary philosophers of sex include Alan Soble, Judith Butler, and Raja Halwani.

Contemporary philosophy of sex is sometimes informed by Western feminism. Issues raised by feminists regarding gender differences, sexual politics, and the nature of sexual identity are important questions in the philosophy of sex.

• What is the function of sex?
• What is romantic love?
• Is there an essential characteristic that makes an act sexual?
• Are some sexual acts good and others bad? According to what criteria? Alternatively, can consensual sexual acts be immoral, or are they outside the realm of ethics?
• What is the relationship between sex and biological reproduction? Can one exist without the other?
• Are sexual identities rooted in some fundamental ontological difference (such as biology)?
• Is sexuality a function of gender or biological sex?