Sexual Ethics - Content Flashcards
(18 cards)
What is the traditional Christian stance on sex in general?
Aquinas argues that for sex to be morally good it must respond to the primary precepts. This is because the primary precepts are inherent moral rules we must follow to fulfill our telos - eudaimonia with God.
What is the traditional Christian stance on extramarital sex?
Aquinas argues sex should happen within a marriage, so as to respond to the primary precept of education.
What is the traditional Christian stance on sex within marriage heterosexual marriage?
Barth argues that sex should bind very different people into a stable union (Gen 2:24 “one flesh”), therefore sex should only take place in heterosexual marriages.
What is the traditional Christian stance on contraceptive sex?
Aquinas argues against it, sex should always respond to the primary precept of reproduction. This means oral and anal sex are also morally wrong.
What is the traditional Christian stance on homosexuality?
Aquinas argues homosexual sex is an apparent good; it is emotional and should not be encouraged since our reason reveals the objective moral truth of the primary precepts - which encourage reproduction.
What is the traditional Christian stance on premartial sex?
Premartial sex is an apparent good based in emotion, which is an inferior faculty for moral decision-making compared to our reason - which can access the primary precepts.
What is the utilitarian view on the case of sacrificial adultery?
In the case of Mrs Bergmeier on sacrificial adultery, she should have had extramarital sex so she can escape the German POW camp and return to her family.
What is the general utilitarian view on sex?
Sex is not inherently good or bad; it is only good insofar as it maximises utility.
What is the utilitarian view on hypothetical ‘harmless rape’?
Weak rule utilitarianism would be against any kind of rape since it would have a rule ‘do not rape!’ to maximise utility.
What is the utilitarian view on homosexuality?
Homosexuality is not inherently good or bad; it is good insofar as it maximises utility. The harm principle also states that we can do whatever we want as long as we do not harm others - which maximises utility and permits homosexuality insofar as it does not harm people.
What is the Kantian view on rape?
Rape is always wrong because it uses people as a means to an end; this fails the categorical imperative which means it cannot be morally good since it would not be done out of duty’s sake.
What is the Kantian view on adultery?
Adultery is always wrong because it uses people as a means to an end through the act of sex outside of marriage; this fails the categorical imperative which means it cannot be morally good since it would not be done out of duty’s sake.
What is the Kantian view on homosexuality?
All sex should occur within a marriage and be for the sake of reproduction since we would otherwise be acting contrary to a natural end. Moreover, through marriage we give up our sexual faculties to our partner, hence not treating each other as a means to an end. Therefore homosexual sex is wrong.
What is the Kantian view on sex for pleasure?
All sex should occur within a marriage and be for the sake of reproduction since we would otherwise be acting contrary to a natural end. Moreover, through marriage we give up our sexual faculties to our partner, hence not treating each other as a means to an end. Therefore sex for pleasure is wrong.
What is the situation ethics view on the case of sacrificial adultery?
In the case of Mrs Bergmeier, she should have had extramarital sex to escape the German POW camp and return to her husband and children. This is because it maximises agape in that situation.
What is the general situation ethics view on sex?
Sex is not inherently good or bad; sex is only good insofar as it leads to the most maximally loving outcome.
What is the situation ethics view on homosexuality?
Love is the only intrinsic good, homosexuality is only good insofar as it maximises the loving outcome. Another consideration is that one of the four working principles, personalism, states that people should be at the forefront of ethics, not legalistic rules.
