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. 1978 Fall;4(1):91-107.
doi: 10.1300/J082v04n01_07.

Jeremy Bentham's essay on "Paederasty". Part 2

L Crompton

Jeremy Bentham's essay on "Paederasty". Part 2

L Crompton. J Homosex. 1978 Fall.

Abstract

This is Part 2 of a transcription of Bentham's manuscript essay on "Paederasty" (1785), Part 1 of which appeared in Vol. 3, No. 4. In Part 1 Bentham argued for the decriminalization of sodomy and opposed the theories of Montesquieu and Voltaire as to its social dangers. In Part 2 Bentham speculates on its causes and alleges that the real reason such behavior is so severely punished is an irrational "antipathy" to pleasure generally and to sexual pleasure in particular. He discusses the danger of blackmail and false accusations and the punishment of lesbian acts, bestiality, and masturbation. Some miscellaneous related notes by Bentham are appended: these deal with religious fears based on the destruction of Sodom, the threat to population, the harshness of English naval law, and other topics.

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