Sexual Ethics

Question 1

Arguments for premarital sex (mainly secular)

Answer 1

-individual choice
-marrige less imporant in todays society, most chose cohabit
-can be loving stable relationships outside marrige
-no illegal

Question 2

Arguments against premarital sex

Answer 2

-increase risk STDs
-Isla, Jews, Christians condemn it as immoral due to scrpitual reasons, sex whithin marrige ebst for harmonious society, bring up child in stable environment

Question 3

Adultery

Answer 3

-widely condemned in bth religious and secular ethics as causes emotional distress

Question 4

Thessalonians quote

Answer 4

‘It is Gods will that you should avoid all sexual immorality and control your body in a holy and honoiurable way’

Question 5

Sex is an exclusive, fundamental to binding contract marrige QUOTE

Answer 5

Genesis ‘That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united tohis wife, they become one flesh’

Question 6

Catholic church today ideation on sex

Answer 6

-based on quote from genesis
-importance sex exclusivley whithin marrige
-this bond cannot be dissolved through divorce

Question 7

St Paul

Answer 7

-emphasised spiritual value of celibacy
-encouraged marrige as a measure only for those unable to achieve this

Question 8

Church of England sex before marrige

Answer 8

-encourages to wait til marrige but accepts couplkes in long term relationships cohabiting and having sex as a step on path to marrige

Question 9

Arguments for contraception

Answer 9

-allows family planning
-prevents unwanted preganacies, ensures children arnt born into unstable families
-reduces risk and spread of STDs

Question 10

Arguments against contraception

Answer 10

-encourages premiscuous relationships as no risk pregnancy
-primary and natural purpose of sex is procreation not pleasure
-Judeao-Christian and Islamic denominations condemn it

Question 11

Christian view contraception

Answer 11

-no explicit mention contraception in Bible
-however emphasis that God wants humans to procreate which is contrary to contraception
Gensisi ‘be fruitful and increase in number’

Question 12

Catholic church view contraception

Answer 12

-condemn it but allows rhythm method for family planning

Question 13

Church of England view contraception

Answer 13

-state that contraception is morally permissable and not against Gods will
-couples own deciscion how many children they have

Question 14

History homosexuality UK

Answer 14

-decriminalised 1967
-able to form civil partnerships 2004
-legal marrige 2014

Question 15

Arguments in favour of homosexual relationships

Answer 15

-individuals should be allowed to love whoever they wish and engage in sexual activities as long as consentual adults
-any discrimination on basis of sexual orientation is against individuals human right to equality and fair treatment

Question 16

Secular arguments against homosexual relationships

Answer 16

-it is unnatural as it cannot result in procreation which is important for continuation of human species

Question 17

Bible quote interpreted as against homosexual relationships

Answer 17

LEVITICUS
‘if a man has sexual acts with a man as he does with a woman he should be put to death’

Question 18

Catholic views homosexual relationships

Answer 18

-particularly influence by Aquinas primary precept ‘reproduce’
-homosexuals should be helped to get over their disorder not discriminated aginst
-should refrain from homosexual acts
-should turn to christ

Question 19

Catholic Catechism quote homosexuality

Answer 19

‘contrary to the natural law’

Question 20

Church of England views homosexual relationships

Answer 20

-not as desirable as heterosexuality
-but should not be discriminated against
-believe all humans loved and as members of church homosexuals are full members of the body of christ and are children of God

Question 21

Jack Dominion approach to sexual ethics

Answer 21

-sex is a gift from God and should be celebrated as long as it takes place between two loving partners
-Chirch should allow same sex marrige
-Chirch should rethink its approach as natural law conception of sex being primarily procreative is too narrow
-needs to consider role of sex in fostering loving bond and relationship

Question 22

Vardy approach to sexual ethics

Answer 22

-transactional view dominates the contemporary understanding of sexual ethics
-love only lasts as long as both parties needs (emotional and sexual) are satisfied
-world of utilitarian relationships, only last as long as pleasure outweights pain
-today the link between love sex and marrige has been abandoned

Question 23

one tehconological chnage which allowed transactional-utilitarian approach to take hold VARDY

Answer 23

-development of contraception
-instead of ‘liberating women’ it has pushed them to a new form of ‘slavery and male dominance’

Question 24

Vardy sex toys

Answer 24

-invention of sex toys undermines the loving relationships between woman and man which is essential for personal mental health
-sex toys advertisments for women claiming to be ‘better than a man’

Question 25

who came up with liberlism approach

Answer 25

JS Mill

Question 26

what does the liberlism approach capture

Answer 26

-dominant approach to sexuality in Britain today

Question 27

Liberlism approach

Answer 27

-society has no right to interfere with any action that takes place between consenting adults -as long as no harm to others

Question 28

Problem with liberlism approach

Answer 28

-question of where we draw the line between 'self regarding' and 'other regarding' -argues that all sexual activity permissible as long as between two consenting adults, but it can be questioned whether it is only those parties which are affected eg adultery -Vardy might point out how casual sex has harmful effect on self image and relationships across society

Question 29

What do philosophers such as Vardy and Dominion strive to do?

Answer 29

-strive to make Christian understanding of love relevant to modern world -embrace non traditional relationships and recognise central place of sex in society and psyche whilst still maintaining that love should be prime consideration in sexual ethics

Question 30

How have social attitudes chnaged

Answer 30

-Vardy writes how old ideal of love has been replaced by utilitarian transactional model

Question 31

evaluate effect of chnaging social attitudes

Answer 31

-benificial to many groups such as homosexuals as removed church domination -also negative effects on feminists who might argue growth in pornography leads to objectification women and development negative self image

Question 32

what did domion emphasise

Answer 32

-personalism over legalism -sexual ethics should focus less on rules more on personal relationships

Question 33

strength of liberian approach

Answer 33

-allows freedom -individuals responsible -values all

Question 34

weakness of libertarian approach

Answer 34

-feminists argue there is always a power dynamic, coersion, person may feel manipulated into consenting -too permissive

Question 35

J S Mill harm principle

Answer 35

-no harm must be caused and consenting adults can do what they like as long as its in private