Masturbation is a very simple concept, yet controversy on the topic is freely discussed among many philosophers. While the word itself has many definitions, Alan Soble, Alan Goldman, Robert Solomon, and Thomas Nagel all have their own take on the matter. Finally, in this essay, I will highlight the philosophical judgment on masturbation and the negative connotation it holds. Alan Soble defines masturbation as a person manually rubbing the penis or clitoris, in private, until final orgasm. There have been many different attempts to define masturbation, but Soble couldn't completely agree with all of them because they were imperfect. The first description of masturbation is “a sexual act involving the hands and genitals”. He disagreed with this because some sexual acts do not involve hands or genitals. The second definition says “a sexual act without insertion.” This is false because it states that if something is not inserted then it is considered masturbatory; oral and anal sex are not considered masturbatory. The third definition says “sexual act that does not involve the insertion of a real penis into an orifice of a living being.” This represents a double standard because it conveys that gays can have sex but lesbians cannot. Since lesbian intercourse does not require a “real penis,” it would be considered masturbation rather than sex. Another definition with the same double standard is shown in the fourth definition, which states “a sexual act that does not involve the insertion of a real penis into an orifice of a human being.” Bestiality is not considered masturbatory; therefore this statement would be incorrect. The fifth definition mentions “a sexual act that does not involve the insertion of a real penis into an orif… middle of paper… feminist writers. From the liberal point of view, they believe that masturbation is wrong. They believe that masturbation, even pornography, sends a bad message to men who are under a lot of pressure to become sexually active. Engaging in masturbation or viewing pornography degrades women and makes them feel like they are being used as an object. Just the thought of women masturbating is frowned upon and seen as immoral. Soble argues that liberals underestimate men. Through my reading, I have come to realize that masturbation has been an issue that many educated philosophers have focused heavily on. Many people have wondered whether masturbation is considered moral or immoral. Although most philosophers viewed masturbation in a bad light, Alan Soble was able to demonstrate that masturbation was not completely corrupt.