CONTENTS OF CHAPTER XXV
Great variation in the views held regarding sexual abstinence — Five groups — The apostles of absolute asceticism — Criticism of their views — View of duplex sexual morality — Its refutation — The unfounded doubt in the possibility of abstinence — Recommendation of relative temporary abstinence from the medical and moral standpoint — Relative abstinence as an ideal of civilization — Recognition of this ideal among the ancient Israelites — Wise prescriptions and utterances in the Bible and the Talmud — Misrepresentation of this idea by the notion of absolute asceticism — Reaction against the latter — Rules regarding the frequency of intercourse — Self-command as a principle of enjoyment — Abstinence before the first sexual intercourse — Sexual maturity and physical maturity — Sexual tension of the third decade of life — Erb’s experiences regarding the harmful consequences of abstinence — Lowenfeld’s reports — Comparison with the dangers of extra-conjugal sexual intercourse — Value of abstinence later in life — Influence upon intellectual activity — Higher civilizing value of the idea of abstinence.