RS a level ETHICS - sexual ethics

ao1 and ao2

which three sexual behaviours does the spec focus on

premarital sex, extramarital sex, homosexuality

why does Anthony Harvey argue that British society, Christianity, and English legislation condemns adultery?

“the social consequences of adulterous relationships were seen to be too damaging to be tolerated.”

quote from Mark 10:11 condemning divorce

 “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her.”

quote from Jesus disrupting the stoning of an adulteress. why does this not support extramarital sex, even though it does criticize condemning those who do it?

“He who is without sin cast the first stone.” Jesus still describes what the adulteress has done as a “sin”

quote from Hebrews 13:4 suggesting God does not will extramarital sex

“God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.”

quote from exodus 10:14 forbidding extramarital sex

“you shall not commit adultery”

quote from Matthew 5:32 forbidding divorce and commenting on adultery

“anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.”

4 applicable aspects of natural law in sexual ethics

real and apparent goods, primary precepts, divine law, human flourishing

why does natural law not support premarital sex

it is an apparent good, contradicts primary precepts

why does natural law not condone extramarital sex

contradicts divine law, not helping human flourishing

why does Aquinas himself not support homosexuality

no possibility of procreation, which he argues “must be a sin” as it’s contradictory to nature

how could natural law support homosexuality? who argues this?

it is unloving and unchristian to condemn gay sex because full sexual relations are a part of the created order of things. W. Norman Pittenger (1977)

3 aspects of Kantian ethics that are applicable to this topic

good will, categorical imperative to do our duty, only treat people as ends rather than means

why does Kant condemn adultery

it breaks the promise on which a marriage is based. adultery is good premise for divorce

3 criteria for sexual relations in a marriage based on Kantian ethics

freely given, equal, mutually consenting

why does Kant suggest cohabitation is wrong

there is a lack of commitment, so people may be treating each other as means

2 reasons why is premarital sex wrong in Kantian ethics

list means treating people as a means to an end, prostitution lacks mutual respect

2 reasons why Kant argues homosexuality is wrong

sex is between a husband and wife, Kant states that homosexual sex “demeans man below the beasts”

what distinction does Bentham make when discussing sex

offences against the self, offences against society

2 examples of offences against the self according to Bentham

homosexuality, prostitution

does Bentham argue that sex is meant to give human pleasure no matter how short lived

yes

what does Mill value regarding sexual behaviour

human freedom

does Mill make a distinction between men and women and their autonomy or roles in sex

no, they’re equal

does utilitarianism place any distinct value on marriage

no

what kinds of utilitarianism value mutually shared interests, such as extramarital sex in an open relationship

rule, preference

does utilitarianism propose adultery to be intrinsically wrong

no, but rule utilitarianism would suggest that if there is basis that monogamy brings about greater satisfaction then there is basis to create rules against extramarital sex

3 ways utilitarianism may support homosexual rights

avoiding the harm of prejudice and shaming people, Foucault suggests satisfying sexual desires like homosexuality does not cause society to collapse, the liberty principle allows bodily autonomy

2 ways utilitarianism may condemn homosexuality

if a majority is against homosexuality then it may be banned, children raised by same sex parents may experience harm through bullying

does Fletcher argue marriage is an intrinsic good

no

what is the criteria for moral premarital sex within situation ethics

treating people with mutual respect and not a means to an end

quote from Fletcher on why premarital sex is not an important issue

“the Christian ethic is not interested in reluctant virgins and technical chastity”

1 of fletchers 4 examples that explores extramarital sex

Sacrificial Adultery

how do the 4 working principles undermine absolutist rules on sexuality for situationism

relativism suggests commandments are not inerrant rules, positivism focuses on good motives, pragmatism encourages doing what is practical as the ends justify the means, personalism makes situationism person-centred

3 points from Fletcher on homosexuality

legislation banning homosexuality is wrong because any law based on an apparent “sin” is unreliable, “ethics always limit private and individual freedom”, the good of any form of sex depends on whether love is fully served

3 criteria proposed by Fletcher which laws should be concerned with regarding sex

age of consent, public decency, assault and violence

can agape refer to sexual acts or pleasure?

no, that’s eros

which 3 aspects of sexual ethics does the spec focus on (regarding which way the acts are viewed)

morality, legality, tolerability

does the spec consider the impact of secularism on sexual ethics

yes

1 of Fletchers’ 4 examples best applied to situation ethics

Mrs Bermeier, who is impregnated by a Russian prisoner-of-war-camp guard so she may return to her family in Germany. Justified by the working principle of pragmatism

statistical increase in cohabitation in the UK since the 1960s

5% to 50%

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 (NT) condemning much sexual behaviour

“neither the sexual immoral nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who have sex with men… will inherit the Kingdom of God”

quote from pope Paul VI in ‘Humanae Vitae’ (1968) on marriage

“every marital act must of necessity retain its intrinsic relationship to the procreation of human life”

what error in SE does philosopher Foucault (20th century) suggest religion is responsible for

the view that some sexual activity is normal and some is abnormal, which is no longer a helpful lens

when did homosexuality become decriminalised in the UK

1967

argument from J.S. Mill in ‘On Liberty’ on government intervention

the government should only have the power to prevent people from harming eachother