What is Nagel’s aim in this article?
A. To defend the unintelligibility of the concept of sexual perversion
B. To articulate what about human sexuality qualifies it to admit of perversions
C. To eliminate the conditions the concept of sexual perversion presupposes
D. All of the above
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is B. To articulate what about human sexuality qualifies it to admit of perversions.
Nagel’s aim in the article is to explore the idea of sexual perversion and what makes certain sexual acts or desires qualify as perverse. He argues that the concept of sexual perversion can be understood by examining human sexuality and its intrinsic features. To achieve this, Nagel seeks to articulate a framework for identifying what makes a sexual act deviant or outside of the norm, and what factors make such acts qualify as perversions.
In the article, Nagel discusses the nature of sexuality as being deeply tied to personal and cultural norms, and how deviations from those norms might be perceived as perversions. He does not defend the unintelligibility of the concept of sexual perversion (which would be option A), nor does he aim to eliminate the conditions the concept presupposes (which would be option C). Instead, he attempts to clarify how human sexuality is uniquely positioned to give rise to perversions, due to its complex and varied nature. This includes considerations of emotional, psychological, and cultural aspects of sexual desire.
Nagel’s argument is nuanced and aims to make sense of the ways in which we might classify certain sexual behaviors as perverse. His focus is not just on categorizing acts as deviant, but on understanding the qualities of human sexuality that allow for such classifications. In this context, the concept of sexual perversion becomes intelligible through a deeper exploration of human desires and the frameworks used to evaluate them.