Sexual Ethics - Essay Plans Flashcards
(2 cards)
Traditional Christian views on Sexual ethics are no longer relevant. [Plan]
Main 1: Aquinas
Sex should respond to the primary precept of reproduction. More specifically, sex should always respond to the primary precepts since they are inherent moral truths that we can universally access through our God-given ratio to fulfill our telos - eudaimonia with God.
Objection 1: Dawkins
Telos is unscientific. More specifically, the theory of evolution reveals that there is no room for telos in contemporary scientific discussion; as such there is no room for telos in a discussion about sexual ethics.
Reply 1: Foot
Telos is infact scientific. More specifically, the example of an oak tree highlights that telos is infact something we can observe empirically and therefore it is scientific and has room in discussions of sexual ethics.
Main 2: Barth
Sex should happen in stable unions. More specifically, Genesis 2:24 speaks of men and woman as “one flesh”, indicating the that men and woman should join together in ‘one flesh’ to have sex - a stable union as God intended.
Objection 2: Reuther
Teachings on sex from the Bible are a legitimising ideology. More specifically, we should only follow teachings that adhere to the golden thread of the Bible - to treat others as you would like to be treated since we are all made imago dei.
Reply 2: Barth
Reuther’s objection relies on an arbitrary golden thread. More specifically, the Reuther does not justify her golden thread - there are many other biblical teachings that are repeated throughout the Bible; what stops men and woman being joined in one flesh from being a golden thread?
Utilitarianism is the most useful approach to sexual ethics. [Plan]
Main 1: Bentham
Utilitarianism gives the insight that utility is the only intrinsic good. More specifically, since utility is the only intrinsic good sex is not inherently good or bad; but rather its moral goodness is measured relative to how much utility it produces.
Objection 1: Aquinas
Sex should respond to the primary precepts. More specifically, the primary precepts are universally accessible through ratio and enable us to fulfill our telos - eudaimonia with God. Therefore, sex should respond to the primary precepts so that we can fulfill our telos.
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