How to Project a Socially Constructed Sexual Orientation

Bibliographic Data

ID3057604
AuthorsPeter Finocchiaro (0000-0003-4060-7061, Wuhan University, corresponding author)
Year2022
Volume7
Issue2
Pages173-203
Publication date2022-01-05
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Social Ontology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2196-9663 • E-ISSN: 2196-9655
PublisherWalter de Gruyter GmbH (PUBLISHER • DE)
DOI10.1515/jso-2021-0005
OpenAlexW3209237504
LanguageEN
Citations received5
References cited35

Was bisexuality a widespread feature of ancient Greek society? This question is an instance of cross-cultural projection -- of taking the means through which people are categorized in one culture and applying it to members of another. It's widely held by those who think that sexual orientation is socially constructed that its projection poses a problem. In this paper, I offer a more careful analysis of this alleged problem. To analyze projection, I adapt Iris Einheuser's substratum-carving model of conventionalism to fit the specific needs of social construction (and social metaphysics more broadly). Using this model, I show that projection is conceptually coherent, and so does not for that reason pose any problem. Along the way, I identify some of the epistemic difficulties facing projection. While these difficulties are formidable, they are not substantially affected by the constructivist claim. I therefore conclude that there is no unique problem facing the projection of a socially constructed sexual orientation

Algorithm · Carving · Conventionalism · Epistemology · Metaphysics · Orientation (vector space · Projection (relational algebra · Sexual orientation · Social constructionism · Sociology · Computer Science · Engineering · Marriage and Sexual Relationships · Mathematics · Philosophy · Political Philosophy and Ethics · Psychology · Religion and Society Interactions · Social Psychology

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