Sexual Ethics (3) - Application of Ethical Theories

Question 1

Broad aim of Natural Law and its application to Sexual Ethics?

Answer 1

• Does not need to be a religious ethic
• But widely adopted by Christianity and Catholicism

Question 2

How does Natural Law’s ‘Divine Law’ view marital relationships?

Answer 2

• Humans are instructed by God to ‘be fruitful and multiply’ (Genesis)
• Primary precept of ‘ordering society’, sex for the good of society to ensure reproduction and provide right environment to nurture children

Question 3

How do Roman Catholics use Natural Law teaching for marital relationships?

Answer 3

• Marriage is a sacrament, a new and indissoluble bond is formed
• They believe that sex within marriage has both unitive and procreative function, emphasising the sacrament
• They believe marriage is the basis for a healthy life, fulfilling primary precepts of raising children in the right environment with a moral basis and secondary precept of monogamous, companionate marriage

Question 4

How does Natural Law view extramarital relations?

Answer 4

• Does not condone, it undermines Divine, Natural and Human Laws
• Even in the case of patriotic prostitution, despite good intentions the misuse of sex is not justified
• It does not fulfil the ‘telos’ and the things that natural law wants it to (primary precepts)

Question 5

How does Natural Law view premarital relations? (LIBERAL)

Answer 5

• In a committed relationship can be permitted if the intention is to fulfil the primary precepts
• If they can fulfil the primary and secondary precepts without the formality of a marriage, the Church can deem them as ‘effectively married’
• This would allow them to carry on their relation, as long as they intend to fulfil the primary precepts

Question 6

How does Natural Law view premarital relations (CONSERVATIVE)

Answer 6

• Traditional Churches argue the intention can only be expressed through marriage vows
• Due to cohabitation lacking the marriage vows, it is regarded as an apparent good rather than an actual good
• There is no sincerity or real commitment in cohabitation

Question 7

How does Natural Law view homosexual relationships (CONSERVATIVE) (QUOTE AQUINAS)

Answer 7

“contrary to the good of man”
- Aquinas argues that sex should always be procreative, homosexual relations can’t do this and thus are a sin
- Aquinas uses Leviticus 18 as support of this

Question 8

How does Natural Law view homosexual relationships? (LIBERAL) (Michel Foucault)

Answer 8

• It is also said sex must be unitive
• Michel Foucault argues that there is no ‘normal’ sexual practice and any attempt at defining a normal practice is an attempt to exert power (The Church)
• Foucault says there is no homosexual, heterosexual etc, there is just ‘sexuality’. What is ‘normal’ is conditioned by those who want power

Question 9

How does Natural Law theologian W Norman Pittenger argue for homosexual relations? (Quote)

Answer 9

“to condemn… to live an inhumane life”
- Argues ones ‘telos’ goes beyond procreation, it is inhumane and un-christian to condemn someone to go against their own nature
- He argues we do not know the origin of homosexuality, nor heterosexuality, all we do know is to condemn someone to living an inhuman life is wrong, unloving an un-christian

Question 10

What are 3 other arguments for homosexuality on a natural law basis?

Answer 10

• ‘Telos’ is ambiguous, could be as much for pleasure as procreation
• Heterosexuals could be condemned for using contraception or taking part in oral sex
• Modern science does not consider homosexuality as deviation from norms, it is not any different to being a different race or left-handed for example

Question 11

Broad aims of Kantian Ethics in relation to sexual ethics?

Answer 11

• Based on the Categorical Imperatives, all humans have ‘good will’ which seeks to treat people as ends and not means
• The fulfilment of the ‘moral law’ is to consistently treat people with respect and dignity in all areas of life

Question 12

How does Kantian Ethics view marital relations?

Answer 12

• The nature of the husband and wife duties to each other is of most importance, to have sex out of duty or lust fails
• Sexual acts are free, must be equal, mutually consenting and both must not be treating each other as a means to an end
• Marriage must have the greater duty of being companionate and not entirely for sex
• If it was merely for sex, then being old and married would have no purpose, the greater promise of marriage is a lifelong, permanent and unconditional companion

Question 13

How do Kantians argue for cohabitation?

Answer 13

• If two cohabiting partners see their duty as the same one as those married, and makes the same faithful and committed promises, what is the advantage of marriage?
• Some couples even make cohabitation contracts, whereby they make the same legal decisions of a marriage

Question 14

How does Kantian Ethics view premarital relations? (Quote)

Answer 14

“an object of the others enjoyment”
- Premarital relations, e.g one night stand, is not permissible as the relationship is not based on mutual respect
- Relationship based on lust treats the other person as a means to an end and demeans both people

Question 15

How does Kantian Ethics view extramarital relations? (Quote)

Answer 15

• Adultery breaks the promise of marriage itself
• “withdraw from the primal duty”
• It is abhorrent and is a fundamental reason to divorce

Question 16

How does Kantian Ethics view homosexual relations? (Quote)

Answer 16

“demean man below the beasts”
- Argues that sex may only occur between husband and wife within marriage
- Homosexuality falls into the same category as adultery and premarital sex

Question 17

How do some argue against Kantian Ethics view on homosexual relations?

Answer 17

• Argue if gay and lesbian people are rational and autonomous, why can they not still live by the ‘moral law’
• Why can gay sex not be expressed in a loving and mutually committed manner?

Question 18

Broad aims of Utilitarianism in its application to Sexual Ethics?

Answer 18

• Secular in its approach, operating on the central maxim, the greatest good for the greatest number
• It questions whether a principle is creating the greatest happiness for a society, if it is then it must stay
• Shares aims with the liberty principle, the idea that a good life is when a person is happy, free from pain and satisfies their preferences

Question 19

How does Utilitarianism view marital relations?

Answer 19

• There is no concrete/normative teachings on the matter
• They would judge on the quality of the relationship, they do not share Christian views of sacrament and therefore it is judged on the quality of the relationship
• They do not distinguish between marriage and cohabitation, if either or is producing the greatest happiness for a society or group of people they can do that
• Preference and Rule Utilitarianism would ask what would produce more happiness, if the legal acknowledgement of a marriage is better for some, they can do that

Question 20

How does Utilitarianism view pre-marital relations?

Answer 20

• Whatever produces more happiness/greater satisfaction

Question 21

How does Utilitarianism view extramarital relations?

Answer 21

• Does not consider adultery as intrinsically wrong, it is for the couple to decide if it has led to greater satisfaction
• This is the case with open relationships, where both agree to allow extramarital relations
• This may work for some, but some find it unsatisfactory and the mistrust and jealousy is too much

Question 22

How might a Rule Utilitarian view extramarital relations? (Think about a film)

Answer 22

• If the rule of monogamy is producing overall greater satisfaction, it should be enforced
• In the film ‘Incident Proposal’ the woman is allowed to sleep with a millionaire in exchange for a million
• The husband ruins the relationship due to jealousy, despite agreeing to it to wipe their debts
• As a result this shows how monogamy can sometimes be the rule that generates greater happiness and the law supports this

Question 23

How does Utilitarianism view homosexual relationships?

Answer 23

• Rejects the idea that homosexuality is wrong, it is irrational homophobic prejudice, and do not take into account the happiness of homosexual couples
• Michel Foucault also argued it does not cause society to collapse
• The liberty principle asserts the way to generate greatest happiness is to allow body sovereignty to every individual to do as they please
• Society which encourages diversity is a happier one

Question 24

How can Utilitarianism be used against homosexual couples, despite supporting it?

Answer 24

• Utilitarianism requires a calculation, to judge whether something should be enforced
• If it is calculated that there is less happiness and moral outrage by homosexual relations, then do we disallow them, they are technically causing harm.
• However some may argue different sexual methods, e.g oral, that same-sex couples use are also used by heterosexual couples and therefore they should be disallowed too

Question 25

Broad aims of Situation Ethics in relation to Sexual Ethics?

Answer 25

• A combination of Kantian, Utilitarian and Liberal Christian views through the 4 working principles to promote Agape
• Fletchers ‘new morality’ is designed to allow people autonomy and permissiveness to live free, happy lives and question teachings they wish to

Question 26

How does Situation Ethics view marital relations?

Answer 26

• Does not view it as an intrinsic good or that it possesses any absolute value
• What matters is they treat each other as companions and friends, coinciding with Jeremy Taylors companionate marriage

Question 27

How does Situation Ethics view premarital relations?

Answer 27

• Questions the sacredness given to a woman’s virginity and body
• Argues there is too much irrational value given
• A person having premarital sex to explore ones sexuality and showing mutual respect by not treating the other person as a means to an end is of the same value as someone having marital sex

Question 28

How does Situation Ethics view extramarital relations?

Answer 28

• Gives the example of ‘sacrificial adultery’
• A woman in WW2 has been put in a concentration camp in Ukraine, and can be sent home if she is pregnant
• The woman decides to sleep with a guard and is sent back to Berlin with her family
• This is permissible according to the four working principles

Question 29

How is Situation Ethics’ view on extramarital relations justified by the four working principles?

Answer 29

Pragmatism: Ends justify the means and being with her family was more important than adultery

Relativism: Most loving thing in the situation was done, commands to not commit adultery are not absolute as they did not cause harm or suffering

Positivism: No intrinsic law against extramarital sex, it is the most loving and positive thing to do in the situation

Personalism: The child born is loved and cared for, the sacrificial act of the wife was out of love and respect for her children

Question 30

How does Situation Ethics view homosexual relationships?

Answer 30

• The bible is not a source of commands, but indicative of the most loving and fulfilling thing to do in human relationships
• We also must take passages into context
• Homosexual practices are sometimes condemned, but homosexual relationships are not
• The intention of the writers is to distance from non-Jewish and non-Christian pagan practices, not halt homosexual relations