A SENTIENT PERSPECTIVE

Humans can alter their trajectory by rethinking their approach to sexual relations, argues this philosophical treatise.

“Imagine a world in which humanity cares for itself. That is what a fully sentient race would do,” writes Whickwithy in the introduction to this series opener. According to the author, humans have fallen far short of this mark. A key reason for this shortcoming, Whickwithy suggests, is that “mankind created stories to explain existence in order to comfort mankind’s desire for comprehension.” Belief in “myths” such as “Pandora’s Box” and the Garden of Eden have led to the ingrained belief that women are cursed. This in turn has impacted humanity’s behavior, specifically with regard to the subjugation of women through various forms of punishment, from misogyny to domestic abuse. Men’s approach to sex has also been damaged by this distorted perception of women. Men, according to Whickwithy, have a predisposition toward animalistic “rutting” as opposed to “loving sex.” The author advocates that an “evolution of awareness” can occur “by engaging eye to eye in a loving tangle”—this, in the author’s opinion, is a way to step beyond the instincts of animals and become “human.” Whickwithy’s message of “make love, not lust” has a built-in benevolence. The author argues the point in an erudite manner: “Our intellect continues to wreak havoc in the absence of the emotional stability provided by mutually satisfying sex.” Unfortunately, Whickwithy’s treatise contains some flaws. Most notably, the argument is never developed; rather, the author continually reiterates the point that “rutting” is mindless and damaging without supplying a satisfactory road map for change. Whickwithy’s thesis is limited in that it is founded on heterosexual relations and does not take into consideration other sexual orientations. The author is also prone to making sweeping statements without delivering supporting evidence: “Look at the statistics sometime. An optimistic estimate is that seventy percent of men are bad at sex.” Whickwithy’s writing is often thought-provoking, but the author’s argument lacks the necessary depth and scope to make a significant impact.

A well-intentioned investigation of the failings of humanity that offers limited solutions.