BIOETHICS FINALS WK4 Flashcards
The properties that
distinguish organisms on
the basis of their
reproductive roles.
Human sexuality
SEXUALITY
*A person’s tendency of
_____,
especially whether
heterosexual or
sexual attraction
The constitution of an
individual in relation to
sexual attitudes or activity.
SEXUALITY
sexuality is defined as an
aggregate of characteristics that
differentiates between the two types or
parts of the organism which reproduce
by means of the fusion of gametes and
which thus also create a connection of
genetic material from two different
sources.
Biologically
sexuality is the behavior
directly associated with the meeting of
the two genders – and in some species
with copulation – which can lead to
fertilization
Psychologically
Human sexuality is
determined by many
factors, like cultural,
political, legal, and
philosophical aspects of
life, but also morality,
ethics, theology,
spirituality, and religion.
Sexual and Human
Reproduction
*Sexual morality is a topic
of universal concern
Sexuality and morality
*Since sex is connected
with the bringing of
children into the world
▪ Concern with social and
private moralities
Sexuality and morality
*Sexual activity is either
morally permissible or
impermissible
Sexuality and morality
Values of Human Sexuality
a. physical pleasure;
b. the expression of intimate
love;
c. the transmission of life to a
new generation;
d. a paradigm and symbol of
more universal forms of
love.
▪it need not be restrictive
o one can carry on meaningful
love affairs simultaneously with
more than one person
*Rejects exclusiveness of sex
a legally and socially
sanctioned union, usually between a
man and a woman,
*Marriage,
Marriage that is regulated by
laws, rules, customs, beliefs, and
attitudes that prescribe the rights and
duties of the partners and accords
status to their offspring
basic social
and personal functions for which it
provides structure,
sexual
gratification and regulation, division of labor between the sexes, economic production and
consumption, and satisfaction of
personal needs for affection, status,
and companionship.
*is an agreement between two
persons by which they grant
each other equal reciprocal
rights, each of them undertaking
to surrender the whole of their
person to the other with a
complete right of disposal over
Kant
MARRIAGE HAVE TAKEN A GREAT NUMBER OF FORMS
exchange marriage;
▪ group marriage;
▪ polygyny
▪ polyandry;
▪ polygamy;
▪ tree marriage
▪ common-law marriage.
a form of marriage involving an arranged and reciprocal exchange of spouses between two groups
exchange marriage;
marriage-like arrangement where three or more
adults live together, sharing almost all aspect
group marriage;
marriage in which two or more women share a husband
polygyny
marriage of a woman to two or more men at the
same time
polyandry;
having more than one wife or husband at the
same time
polygamy;
a form of symbolic marriage between a human
and a tree that is said to be infused with supernatural life
tree marriage
one in which the couple lives together for a
period of time and holds themselves out to
friends, family and the community as “being
married
common-law marriage.
Marriage
Principles
choose
care for self
know
care
share
manage
connect
*sexual faculties have one true
end — procreation
sex
▪sex is pleasurable but it is
pleasurable in order to fulfil this
end
- St. Aquinas, Natural Law
Theory
*outcome is independent of
desires, wants, reasons, hopes,
fears etc
sex
▪premarital sex, masturbation,
bestiality, contraception,
homosexual acts, pornography
and adultery are all wrong
St. Aquinas, Natural Law Theory
is wrong because
children would be brought into the
world outside the safe confines of marriage
Premarital Sex
*sex is morally permissible within the
context of a heterosexual, lifelong,
and monogamous marriage
Immanuel
Kant
Actions are morally right if and only they maximize
Utilitarianism
few questions and qualifications that
need to be made.
sex will typically lead to pleasure that does not mean that Utilitarianism is committed to the claim that the act of having sex is always good.
just because sex is typically
pleasurable it does not mean
Utilitarianism is committed to the claim that we have a duty to have as much sex as possible.
heterosexual sex within a marriage might be morally wrong if there has been coercion or threats, or just a general unhappiness with
perfunctory sex.
adultery or having multiple sexual partners can be morally acceptable.
considering various sex acts
because of his distinction between higher and lower pleasures.
*Perverted sex (sexual activities that violate the single purpose of reproduction) is not necessarily
regarded as “morally wrong”
Thomas Nagel
sexual orientations may not be chosen,
in many cases, what behaviors people exhibit
in response to their orientations are chosen,
and such behaviors can be evaluated morally.
(D. Moskovitz, 2001)
Same-sex
affection
Men or women
who are attracted
to individuals of
the same sex
homosexuality
*a condition in which a person, usually
heterosexual in orientation, is more
comfortable sexually while wearing
clothing symbolic of the opposite sex
Transvetism
*strong desire to change one’s anatomical
gender, either on purpose or due to
indistinct anatomy
Transsexualism
