I think that you can't look at things in a vacuum. Rationalism can't be looked at without a comparison to relativism, or pragmatism etc. To say that you look at the philosophy independent of anything else. in my mind anyway, is impossible. It's like saying that there can be a truly neutral view on anything. The sum of your experiences always come in to play. Now those experiences don't necessarily mean that you are predisposed to a positive or nehative slant, but to think there is no influence isn't accurate, in my view

as to the SS issue, the example I think was an effort to illustrate that a short term solution (a pragmatic one for the theme of the article) although solves he immediate problem, it doesn't always address the issue at it's core.

A moral example, pornography, at it's core, is an attempt to satisfy someones desire. It's a selfish desire that is only interested in self gratification. In the attempt to do that, you (the viewer) place others in an innacurate light. Women don't really act like that, certainly they aren't willing to do the acts in the movies (although admittedly some are). Physically most people aren't as "healthy" as the actors/actresses are portrayed, so the expectaion can be skewed to what reality is. Now certainly there are many other factors, demeaning of women/exploitation/sexual addixtions exacerbated etc that I'm not even speaking about, but the point is, meeting your short term desire of sexual gratification, by using porn, has a cost. It can take the form of changing your view on the other sex even unintentionally, but if you start to "look" for women who will "do" those things, then it has changed you, possibly irrevocably. Thus the pragmatic solution doesn't take into account the long term affects.

lol, have never been to California. Furthest west I have gone is Denver But I was also speaking about the stamina

Quote by backroom:

Way I ask how much exposure you have had to porn?

more then I care to remember

Not change, but rather established. I got into porn at a young age (teens) and thought that was the way women looked at sex. Found out that wasn't the truth, not in a way that caused harm to anyone, but let's put it this way, girls that I met didn't like backdoor sex as much as the movies portrayed, lol

But more to the point, the movies weren't about sharing the intimacy or the actual fulfilling of your partner, it was about getting off. I did what I had to to make her happy so I could get off. I found out that shouldn't be the motivation. (trying not to get overly explicit here )

I would say that is a possible conclusion, but the same conclusion could have been achieved by a correct view of the value of a woman(not as an object of my satisfaction, but rather someone who should be cherished, recognized as equal), the role of sex and a correct view of the act. Don't always need to go through the errors to find the truth

hhmm, that doesn't sound possible, since there is no "certain" solution. Each person is going to react to situations differently, and even differently over the years. The "problem" of pragmatism is, the solutions are not the same for everyone. That is what objective truth speaks to. That there is a solution, but how can fallible people be able to find the solutions of problems they can't always identify

that is "your" take. Philosophy means the love of knowledge. You have decided theology isn't about knowledge, or at least accurate knowledge. And that's fine, but to then disqualify this as not a "philosophy" course I believe is inaccurate. I understand it isn't worshiping secular philosophy, but that doesn't negate it in my mind, just as theological philosophy courses aren't elevated in my mind either.

when I say the "value" of women I wasn't referring to child bearing. I am saying that a woman has a desire for sexual gratification as well. It doesn't have to be slanted that she is there for the purpose of doing what the guy wants to do. Most porn (admittedly the movies I watched, and that lasted for some 25 years) that was almost never the tone of the movies. I'm sure there are some geared towards couples (have watched with other women) but that wasn't the tone I observed in 99% of the genre. I just know that when the guys started slapping the girls (butts or faces) and started spitting at them and doing other demeaning things, it really bothered me. And that was more prevalent towards the end of my wayching

I do understand the concept of a realistic solution appeals more then a conceptual problem down the road

ah, but the biblical nature of women isn't what you suppose it is. You have to be willing to set aside the cultural criticism of the day saying the Bible says that women are 2nd class citizens and see what scripture actually says about women. Now I understand there will be some cuts and pastes about this, and I am happy to discuss this, but if you aren't willing to look at the scriptures without a predetermined notion that you won't entertain any other possible conclusions, please just say that and we can move on from that