Aphrodisiacs and Anti-aphrodisiacs: Three Essays on the Powers of Reproduction

Key themes

Reproductive Power and Sexuality as Sacred

This theme explores how ancient societies imbued reproductive power with profound spiritual and sacred significance, often manifesting in rituals, symbols, and forms of worship (e.g., phallic worship). Davenport argues that sexuality, far from being merely biological, was a central pillar of ancient spiritual and communal life.

Cultural Relativism and the Evolution of Morality

Davenport critically examines how perceptions of sexuality and morality are not universal but are profoundly shaped by cultural and historical contexts. He emphasizes that practices considered 'lewd' or immoral in his Victorian era were often sacred, commonplace, or socially accepted in ancient civilizations, thereby arguing for a more nuanced understanding of human behavior across time and cultures.

Historical and Anthropological Inquiry

The book itself is a foundational exercise in historical and anthropological methodology, attempting to systematically collect, categorize, and analyze data from various historical and cultural sources to understand human behavior related to reproduction. It reflects the nascent stages of these academic disciplines in the late 19th century, striving for a scientific approach to a previously taboo subject.

Worth discussing

How does Davenport's contrast between ancient reverence for reproduction and modern views challenge or affirm your own understanding of sexual morality?