A Problem in Modern Ethics by John Addington Symonds ~ Full Audiobook [philosophy] episode artwork

EPISODE · Feb 12, 2026 · 4H 51M

A Problem in Modern Ethics by John Addington Symonds ~ Full Audiobook [philosophy]

from The Book Reader · host Classic Audiobook Collection LLC

A Problem in Modern Ethics by John Addington Symonds audiobook. Genre: philosophy Privately printed in the late 19th century for a tiny circle of readers, John Addington Symonds' A Problem in Modern Ethics is a bold, carefully argued inquiry into what his era called 'sexual inversion' - same-sex desire and relationships - addressed to the people who shaped public opinion and policy: doctors, psychologists, clergy, and jurists. Writing as a humane scholar steeped in history and literature, Symonds surveys how societies across time have understood and regulated same-sex love, then turns to the competing medical explanations of his day, challenging easy assumptions that treat homosexuality as a vice, a contagion, or a simple acquired habit. He weighs the ethical stakes for individuals forced into secrecy, the damage done by stigma and blackmail, and the contradictions of laws that punish consenting adults while claiming to defend morality. Along the way, he brings a literary critic's eye to cultural evidence, including discussion of major writers whose work was implicated in contemporary debates. Part historical study, part ethical brief, and part early rights argument, the essay captures a pivotal moment when modern sexology and modern civil-liberties thinking were beginning to collide. For ad-free listening try our premium subscription Chapters (Approximate) (00:00:00) Chapter 00 (00:10:37) Chapter 01 (00:18:30) Chapter 02 (00:30:45) Chapter 03 (00:39:01) Chapter 04 (00:55:14) Chapter 05 (01:08:34) Chapter 06 (01:18:45) Chapter 07 (01:29:17) Chapter 08 (01:48:43) Chapter 09 (02:04:35) Chapter 10 (02:20:23) Chapter 11 (02:36:37) Chapter 12 (02:54:34) Chapter 13 (03:13:53) Chapter 14 (03:26:40) Chapter 15 (03:37:15) Chapter 16 (03:53:15) Chapter 17 (04:06:22) Chapter 18 (04:17:36) Chapter 19 (04:31:00) Chapter 20 (04:41:26) Chapter 21 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Feb 12, 2026

Embed this episode

NOW PLAYING

A Problem in Modern Ethics by John Addington Symonds ~ Full Audiobook [philosophy]

0:00 4:51:43

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

No similar episodes found.

No similar podcasts found.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of The Book Reader?

This episode is 4 hours and 51 minutes long.

When was this The Book Reader episode published?

This episode was published on February 12, 2026.

Can I download this The Book Reader episode?

Yes. Use the download control on the episode player to save the publisher-provided media file.
URL copied to clipboard!