In my readings of both the Punzo and Goldman papers I think it's fair to say that both men can agree on the fact that sex within a loving committed relationship can serve to further deepen the love and strengthen the relationship. However, Punzo who states: "The total physical intimacy of sexual intercourse will be an expression of total union with the other self on all levels of their beings.", believes that sex is so sacred that it shouldn't be engaged outside of a committed relationship. While Goldman on the other hand, believes that sex is merely an act not that different from any other social interaction between humans.

It is on this basis that he comes to the conclusion that it does not require a commitment, and sex can be engaged in simply for the pleasure that one can derive from it. He further explains that so long as the sex is between two consenting adults, and both parties are willing participants and no mani

Goldman says that sex has been misrepresented in philosophical writings and "criticizes" the predominant form of analysis, which he terms as "means-end analysis." Goldman believes that the central problem with Punzo's, as well as other philosopher's writings who share a similar point of view, lies in the fact that they "view sex as merely a means to another separable ends" rather than viewing sex as the actual end object. Goldman states that in order to answer the question of whether or not sex is possible outside a committed relationship you must first define the act of sex itself. He writes that sexual desire is the "desire for contact with another person's body and for the pleasure which such contact produces; sexual activity is activity which tends to fulfill such desire of the agent." Goldman believes that other philosophers have gone wrong by trying to separate sex from the pleasure that one derives from it. Because he believes it is not a by-product of sex, but is instead a non-separable part of the act.

pulation is involved then no existing moral codes are being violated which proves that sex is possible outside of a commitment. Punzo believes that when two people engage in sexual intercourse "they are bringing themselves together in as intimate and total a physical union as is possible" and therefore sex must be conducted within a committed relationship. He believes that it is impossible to merge on this close a physical level and not also merge on a psychological or mental level.

Punzo, on one hand, takes this literally and

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