Alan Watts: Exploring His Philosophy and Spiritual Teachings

Sexual morality in the Western world is rooted in the Bible, particularly in the teachings of St. Paul, which have historically sought to impose a universal standard of sexual behavior for everyone, everywhere, and for all time. However, these teachings are now considered obsolete and unworkable. They became outdated with the advent of the pill, which has dissociated sexual pleasure from reproduction. Additionally, overpopulation has transformed reproduction from something to be encouraged into a practice that needs to be curtailed. Furthermore, research indicates that sexual desire is linked to the stimulation of specific brain areas, suggesting that such stimulation is largely arbitrary.

It is important to recognize that homosexuals can be conditioned to respond sexually to women—or even to unconventional objects like an old boot. Similarly, heterosexual males can be trained to respond sexually to other men. Ultimately, who is to determine which orientation is more desirable?

Contemporary defenders of St. Paul, including certain psychiatrists and sociologists, offer little more than questionable statistics to support their claims. Take, for instance, Dr. Charles W. Socarides, who stated in a letter to Playboy (June 1970): "Five hundred million years of evolution have established the male/female standard as the functionally healthy pattern of human sexual fulfillment..." Yet, the human species is only about one million years old, based on the earliest remains discovered. Other species have existed far longer; for example, sharks have thrived for three hundred million years, demonstrating a different healthy pattern based on their own evolutionary needs. 

What may have been considered functionally healthy in one context is not necessarily so under new conditions, as the remains of outdated models illustrate. However, sharks, dinosaurs, and traditional psychiatrists are often resistant to change.

Currently, the sexual revolution is progressing into the electronic age. Recent experiments in electric brain stimulation suggest that sexual excitement can now be induced at the push of a button. Studies in autonomic shaping have revealed that individuals can learn to control these responses and reproduce them at will, once they identify the neural buttons involved. Just decide what you want to be excited by, and your local sex adjustment center can match your sexual waves, providing a suitable mate of any sex while you wait. This evolution aligns with the broader themes of civil rights and gay history, as it opens conversations about sexual expression and identity. It is now feasible to offer every individual the best sexual experiences they can handle without overwhelming them.

Any candidate advocating for such progressive views could attract significant support and bring critical issues related to LGBT activism into the public discourse.