Interrelation between Sex and Death

Dear S.B.E. Readers:

This is a rather prosaic question but I'm hoping a reader(s) can point
me to some possible sources relating to the interrelationship between
sex and death, in the species general and humans in particular. I'm
looking for sources from:

Evolutionary Biology
Biology
Trans-Cultural Phenomenon
Psychology

I'm specifically looking for sources which are able to take Darwin and
shed light on the interrelationship between sex and death. Obviously,
evolutionary biology can be said to be all about life and death.
However, in the common mind, sex is seen as the opposite of death, the
antithesis of it. I don't think the two are the same but I think they
are interrelated. If that is the case as I think most evolutionary
biologists know, that raises serious questions about "morality" and
individual autonomy. I think it is preferable to acknowledge the
creatures we are as a species if it comes to descending into hell than
keep our illusions about goodness, freedom, equality, liberty, etc. My
Jewish doctor calls me a Righteous Gentile.

Because Darwin's Theory of Evolution and biology deals with science it
has remained moot on issues of morality. However, it can be argued
Darwin's Theory of Evolution and his successors dealt the concept of
morality a profound blow, presenting evidence we evolved from earlier
species and evolution was random.

Now, I'm all for keeping science and "morality" separate but I do wish
some evolutionary biologists would present scientific examples of how
sex and death are interrelated with each other. I recently asked a
doctor what the biological relationship was. He said when a person was
dying there was sometimes a feeling of "losing control" similar to sex.
I think, however, it goes deeper than that.

For example, what is the relationship between sex and death in such
cases as genocide, infanticide, etc.? Certainly, aggression plays an
important role in both sex and death yet how is the expression
different or in some ways the same?

This is an important area to explore. If any readers have come across a
work which touches upon many of these topics please cite it.

Michael Ragland


.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Cost of sex - a bargain!
    ... _don't know_, biologically, why sex is common. ... person who knew something about biology. ... Anyone who studies evolution discovers this very quickly. ... frequency of sexual reproduction and recombination. ...
    (talk.origins)
  • Re: biblical limits evolution process
    ... >>>biology book. ... God knows why these newbies have a bug up their buns ... >> theological issue with accepting evolution. ... > Why would God use death as his method of creating (required by ...
    (talk.origins)
  • Re: If Atheists Funded Their Religion Evolution
    ... forced to pack their bags and shuttle the crippled stepchild Evolution ... Can you imagine the wars that would be fought if thepeople that voted ... Sudden drop in death rate. ... That's deep magic - not a fit subject for science. ...
    (talk.origins)
  • Re: Two lovely rants
    ... I think you should defend to the death their right to march, ... Life doesn't imitate art, it imitates bad television. ... Love is the answer, but while you're waiting for the answer, sex ... The food here is terrible, and the portions are too small. ...
    (alt.guitar.amps)
  • Re: Two lovely rants
    ... I think you should defend to the death their right to march, ... Life doesn't imitate art, it imitates bad television. ... Love is the answer, but while you're waiting for the answer, sex ... The food here is terrible, and the portions are too small. ...
    (alt.guitar.amps)