Homosexuality in the Film Latter Days and in Sexual Perversion by Nagel

From the assigned readings and film, I felt that I have gained a better understanding on one of the most controversial types of relationships, homosexuality. The topic of homosexuality isn’t easy to openly talk about but it is important as philosophy students, to have an open-mind about topics that we don’t partake in. Doing so allows us to promote new ways of thinking about the world around us and see them in a whole new light. In this personal response paper, I will discuss homosexuality in connection with the film Latter Days to determine why a homosexual relationship can meet Kant’s criteria for acceptable love as mentioned in Ruse’s essay, “Is Homosexuality Bad Sexuality?”, as well as why it qualifies as a complete and healthy relationship as described by Nagel in “Sexual Perversion.”

Michael Ruse’s essay revolves around the central question if homosexuality is an acceptable form of relationship. In order to help answer this question, Ruse examines this argument from multiple philosophical perspectives, mainly the categorical imperative and utilitarianism. The first ethical framework is Kant’s categorical imperative. According to this theory, a person should not use another for their own benefit or the benefit of others because “people must be treated as subjective worthy beings in their own right” (Ruse, 1995, pg.113). This means that in a relationship, one must not treat the other as a means to the fulfillment of their sexual desires (e.g. as a sexual object). Instead, there must be respect for the dignity of the other. “By giving oneself reciprocally – by yielding oneself, body and soul – one shows respect for the other as an end and not just as a means” (Ruse, 1995, pg. 113). In doing so, according to Kant, there woul...

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...ity was something that I never really took the time to think about but after reading the essays and watching the film, I have newfound respect for homosexuality. I know it’s only a matter of opinion, but I do genuinely feel that homosexuality is indeed an acceptable way for people to act and that there is nothing wrong with it.

Works Cited

Nagel, T. (1995). Sexual perversion. In R. Stewart (4th Ed.), Philosophical Perspectives on Sex and Love (pp. 105-112). New York, New York: Oxford University Press, Inc.

Ruse, M. (1995). Is homosexuality bad sexuality?. In R.Stewart (4th Ed.), Philosophical Perspectives on Sex and Love (pp. 113-123). New York, New York: Oxford University Press, Inc.

Schaefer, J. & Tibbles, K. (Producers), & Cox, C.J. (Director). (2003). Latter days [Motion picture]. United States: Funny Boy Films & Davis Entertainment Filmworks.