Talk:John Addington Symonds

From Philosopedia

The best one can say about Symonds' views on marriage is that they are a useful point of departure for new thinking about love between men. It is true that there "inheres an element of instability" in any sexual contract. If there is any point to a marriage contract, it is a mutual vow of commitment that transforms that inherent instability in an interesting way: the free renunciation of freedom adds a second level of instability that transforms the first without extinguishing it! Surely it is deeply demeaning to gay couples to assume that freedom for them (and not for straight couples!) must imply that "the sexual flower of comradeship may spring afresh for each of them wherever favourable soil is found." -- Eric Walther, 6/5/06