Post: #26

My impression about the matter, following classical philosophy, is that the sexual or reproductive instinct, when correctly channelled, is a concrete expression of the metaphysical love that gives rise to Creation/the universe.

That being the case, it is best to have sex with a woman you love, because the function of sex in nature is reproduction, and the it is at its most perfect state when it occurs in a committed relationship with someone you really care about.

To sum it up, in my opinion sex is an instinct for reproduction which has its place, ideally, in a committed relationship with a compatible woman. That appears to me to be what is meant for "sex in moderation".

I think periods of chastity are good for self reflection and meditation, but perpetual sexual repression is an evil, such as the repression of any healthy, natural instinct.

Post: #27

Think about it: if you ate dark chocolate all the time, it would loose it's appeal to you (taste wise), moderation produces the best results. I look at it this way: try every car on the lot, but be picky!

Post: #28

wise men advocated chastity because when combined with a lifestyle of disciplined meditation at some point the excess sex energy that is no longer being wasted fuels the transformation of intellect from normal intellect to true wisdom. This is incomprehensible to most western men b/c our society has devolved away from spiritual principles to such an enormous degree.

Post: #29

(12-05-2014 12:07 PM)monster Wrote:  

(12-05-2014 05:40 AM)FretDancer Wrote:  From Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography:

Quote:In his autobiography, Benjamin shares a list of virtues that he created and he deemed necessary. In this post, the last virtue from the list, chastity, is the one we shall focus on.

CHASTITY: Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dulness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another’s peace or reputation.

Funny that Ben would recommend this when he was a cad. When he was the US Ambassador to France, there are lots of stories of old Ben and the french women.

Typical politician: do as I say not as I do.

Then there's the Hell Fire Club that he apparently frequented.

Post: #30

My hypothesis is that these wise/successful men espoused chastity as it demands excellent self-control to live it.

Well know longitudinal studies have shown a strong correlation between greater levels of self-control, specifically impulse control, and academic, professional and social success and better BMI and health outcomes. So health and wealth for those with better self control.

The theory is that impulse control is a resource that can be developed through practice and is transferable between domains. Therefore if you were able to delay sexual gratification better than others, you would also be able to apply this superior self control ability to business or academia or healthy living or social situations.

Practicing self control through chastity would undoubted improve your ability to work harder/longer.

Thinking of Isaac Newton who spent most of his college years spent at his desk working while he friends partied or Einstein who meticulously planned his daily routine to improve his work output, you can see the importance of self-control.

Post: #31

A common theme in the collapse and replacement of Chinese dynasties is that the final rulers of the doomed imperial house become helpless betas controlled by their favorite concubines, whereas the successful emperors were highly-disciplined masculine figures who strictly managed relations with their women and subordinates. Instead of womanizing, they would spend that time reviewing and rectifying official policy, making inspection tours around the empire, or studying religion and philosophy.

Post: #32

I'm sure various reasons, some of the others already gave great answers.

I'm sure some just did it for common sense reasons, such as avoiding pregnancy, avoiding falling for a girl you don't really love, avoiding STDs; not to mention in smaller communities a man who philandered was more likely to be the target of revenge by the woman's brother or father, etc

Some extreme ascetics such as the Gnostics essentially viewed the material world as defective or evil and believed in shunning physical relations as much as possible in favor of seeking spirituality; there is some truth in this despite it being extreme; one overarching truth I've heard in nearly all worthwhile philosophies is that trying to find happiness solely in material gains or pleasures leads to misery, but that happiness really comes from having some type of deeper purpose in life.

Apparently Gnosticism and Platonism had an influence on the early Christian Church; therefore I believe that in more Puritanical Christian communities abstaining from sex or masturbation became the "bragging right" as opposed to trying to have sex with the most or hottest women. And of course some of them take it to unhealthy extremes; in the Victorian era apparently many men wound up seeing therapists due to religious sexual repression; I believe we're seeing something of a secular counterpart to this in modern progressive/feminist/SJW culture as well, but with the blame solely on the lustful men and no concern about the woman's chastity.

I've heard other arguments too, such as that human's nature is to be with their sex partners indefinitely (even though this is unpractical), and therefore planning to have sex with someone you don't want to see again is unnatural.

Or just that having sex with someone you don't consider worthy of bearing your child lacks self-respect or is irresponsible to the potential offspring - since there's no 100% guarantee that a pregnancy won't happen and it will just add to the epidemic of single moms and children with no fathers.

I'm sure the arguments for and against are endless. But regardless, the one thing I do agree with is that sex should never be a guy's "end game in life". It should just be something enjoyable to do, but if a guy feels like he has to have sex just to prove he's a man, then he's allowing himself to become dependent on women for his sense of self worth - whether he's a typical husband who has just 1 woman or a pimp who has a harem of women, they should always just be an asset to his life, never his sole source of pride or less they have control over him.

Post: #33

(06-07-2016 10:32 PM)EDantes Wrote:  I've heard other arguments too, such as that human's nature is to be with their sex partners indefinitely (even though this is unpractical), and therefore planning to have sex with someone you don't want to see again is unnatural.

Or just that having sex with someone you don't consider worthy of bearing your child lacks self-respect or is irresponsible to the potential offspring - since there's no 100% guarantee that a pregnancy won't happen and it will just add to the epidemic of single moms and children with no fathers.

Those are really good reasons.

Post: #34

Very interesting and insightful posts. Most great religions have recognised the carnal nature of man and that man cannot be 100% chaste. It is why they had fertility festivals such as Lupercalia in Roman times and more recently and in Roman Catholic tradition, Mardi Gras and the debauchery that accompanies it. The problem is that most people do not know that following Mardi Gras is six weeks of self-denial, prayer and fasting.

Also, many eunuchs in harems and wealthy households became rich in their own right without the distraction of sex and women. There are very few men that have become famous for their sexual prowess alone. A man's achievements in other fields leads to pussy or the opportunity of pussy. They just need to have enough game to know how to handle it.

Post: #35

(06-10-2016 07:59 PM)Zaca Wrote:  Very interesting and insightful posts. Most great religions have recognised the carnal nature of man and that man cannot be 100% chaste. It is why they had fertility festivals such as Lupercalia in Roman times and more recently and in Roman Catholic tradition, Mardi Gras and the debauchery that accompanies it. The problem is that most people do not know that following Mardi Gras is six weeks of self-denial, prayer and fasting.

Well in Catholic parts of America and Catholic Countries, Carnival/Mardi Gras/Fat Tuesday is immediately followed by Ash Wednesday aka the first day of Lent.

WIA

Post: #36

Post: #37

(06-05-2016 02:03 AM)jibj Wrote:  wise men advocated chastity because when combined with a lifestyle of disciplined meditation at some point the excess sex energy that is no longer being wasted fuels the transformation of intellect from normal intellect to true wisdom. This is incomprehensible to most western men b/c our society has devolved away from spiritual principles to such an enormous degree.

For how to apply this to business see Napolean Hill's Think and Grow Rich.