Sexual ethics key words Flashcards
Pythagoreans
Ancient Greek philosophers who believed that sex weakens the mind.
Cynics
Ancient Greek philosophers who believed that there is no point in controlling sexual desire/ pleasure.
Stoics
Ancient Greek philosophers who believed in the suppression of all emotions.
Incest
Sexual intercourse between close family members.
Pre martial sex
Sex before marriage.
Adultery/ Extra martial sex
Sexual intercourse with someone other than your marriage partner.
Porneia
A Greek word traditionally translated as divorce, but meaning is unclear.
Patriarchal view of marriage.
Women become property of their husband, their main purpose is to bear children.
Christian purposes of marriage
Fides - fidelity, proles - procreation and sacramentum - union.
Fornication
Having sex outside marriage, in Old testament means chasing other Gods.
Feminism
A way of thinking that seeks to emancipate women in society and give them equal opportunities.
Divorce
Legal or formal ending of marriage.
Celibacy
A state of not having sexual intercourse with another person, usually found among Christian ministers, such as catholic or orthodox priests.
Contractual view of marriage
The idea that marriage is simply a contract between two people or two people and their families.
Procreative aspect of sex
Sex primarily for reproduction.
Unitive aspect of sex
Sex is a way of strengthening a relationship.
Homosexuality
Sexual attraction to a person of the same sex.
Bisexuality
Sexual attraction to people of both sexes.
Heterosexuality
Sexual attraction to people of the opposite sex.
Sex
Biological characteristics that determine whether a person is male or female.
Gender
Cultural and psychological characteristics that determine whether a person is male or female.
Libertarian attitudes to sex
View that any sexual act between consenting adults is morally acceptable.
Queer theory
The idea that there can be no fixed rules about what is or is not a legitimate sexual relationship. Being queer is the freedom to define oneself according to one’s nature.
Harm principle
The belief that an act or consequence is morally permissible if no harm is done.
Negative autonomy
Modern Utilitarian view that freedom may paradoxically involve lack of liberty ( sex trafficking.)
Humanae Vitae
Encyclical of Pope Paul VI in 1968 which states only natural methods of contraception should be used.
Abortifacient
Any form of contraception that destroys a potentially fertilised egg e.g. morning after pill.
