The sexual question

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

29903

Title

The sexual question

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Auguste Forel presents a scientific, psychological, and sociological study of human sexuality, challenging conventional morality and religious dogma. With unflinching candor, the text explores sexual evolution, pathology, marriage laws, and the rights of individuals, aiming to liberate humanity from prejudice and promote social hygiene through rational understanding.

Summary up to 500 words

In "The Sexual Question," Dr. Auguste Forel presents a comprehensive treatise examining human sexuality through biological, psychological, and sociological lenses. Moving beyond the narrow confines of traditional morality, Forel argues that sexual instinct is a vital force rooted in life itself, requiring education rather than suppression. The work begins with the scientific foundations of reproduction and evolution before analyzing the complex interplay between love, procreation, and sexual appetite in men and women. Forel rigorously critiques existing legal and social structures, particularly marriage laws that enforce inequality between spouses. He advocates for absolute legal equality, the separation of property to prevent financial despotism, and the right to divorce when unions become harmful or incompatible. He contends that civil law should recognize coitus as a private affair between consenting adults, free from religious tyranny or state interference, provided no third parties are injured. The text addresses controversial topics with frankness, including venereal diseases, masturbation, sexual perversions, and the influence of alcohol on sexual health. Forel emphasizes that society must protect minors and those deemed legally incompetent, such as the insane, from abuse while respecting the rights of adults to satisfy their natural appetites. He challenges the notion of indissoluble marriage, arguing that forcing incompatible couples together causes greater harm than divorce. A significant portion of the book is dedicated to the ethics of civil law regarding adultery, prostitution, and the rights of children born outside wedlock. Forel proposes that society should grant equal status to illegitimate children and regulate prostitution through hygiene and education rather than criminalization alone. He also explores how environment, climate, and poverty influence sexual life and heredity. The significance of the work is highlighted by a letter from a young woman who found liberation in its honest treatment of female sexuality. She describes how the book dispelled her "false shame" and internal anxiety, replacing chaos with calm enlightenment. Forel concludes that humanity must actively engage in selective and educational improvement to revitalize its hereditary energy. He calls for a shift away from decadent comfort toward principles of self-control and social responsibility, urging readers to declare war on the prejudices and abuses—such as alcoholism and capital domination—that hinder human happiness and evolution.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Sexuality