Philosophy 1020 Lecture Notes - Lecture 15: Zygote, Egg Cell, Uterus
Document Summary
To describe, predict and explain the occurrence of: observable phenomena or matters of fact. Religion relies on all four of these domains. Athena beldecos: one of the authors of our article. Traced back to aristotle, female was seen as the incomplete male. Determination of sexual characteristics in the fertilization process: 1890s. Courtship: spermatic suitors court the egg, ovum decides which sperm allowed in. Sperm sagas: many sperm stories portray the sperm as heroic victor. Egg doesn"t choose a suitor, rather the egg is passive prize awarded to victor. Hostile uterus: conditions in vagina are inhospitable to sperm, millions are killed or go the wrong way. A new story: 1980 egg is no longer seen as a silent partner, the egg draws the sperm in, sperm doesn"t penetrate. Importance: stereotype of male activity and female passivity affects view of fertilization process and activity of zygote. The above views have been objectified by views of society.