Sexual Ethics: Kant Flashcards
What do ideas of freedom and autonomy mean?
Rational consent is important to Kantian ethics. Treating someone as an end only means treating them with dignity – so any sexual behaviour/relationship that is driven totally by lust risks treating the partner as an object – using them.
What does ‘no one should become a means to an end’ mean in terms of sexual ethics?
Condemns any sexual activity that was conducted in a context of coercion or manipulation. Non-consensual sex? Pornography? Casual sex?
What would Kant think of cohabitation?
lacks commitment and so from a Kantian perspective there is the danger that couples are using each other as a means to an end.
What would Kant think of marriage?
In a kingdom of ends the commitment of marriage would be respected. It is a contract where persons give each other rights so that any sexual relationship that follows does not “degrade human nature” by treating the other person as an object. For Kant marriage is for the union of two people of different sexes, they are equal partners in this and sexual enjoyment is right to be permitted in this partnership.
What would Kant think of premarital sex?
Based on conditions, marriage is based on long term duty. Marriage has an unconditional nature – “for better, for worse…”, it is unconditional commitment – and is something that I would will for others.
What would Kant think of extramarital sex?
Kant gives two reasons for divorce: adultery and impotence.
- Adultery breaks to promise of marriage – “one party thereby seeks to withdraw from the primal duty”.
- Impotence – makes it impossible to have a reciprocal sexual relationship (this does not refer to impotency later in marriage but undisclosed impotency). Kant recognised the importance of pleasure within a marriage.
What would Kant think of homosexuality?
Kant himself disapproved of homosexuality although this is not necessarily a logical consequence of his theory. He argues that homosexual sex cannot be other than lust and “demeans man below the beasts”.
How did Arthur Schopenhauer critique Kant?
Attacked Kant’s views on homosexuality by asserting that it is a means of preventing greater evils such as the birth of unwanted children.
How could Kant be seen as a hypocrite?
Kant was celibate. If his own principle of universal laws was applied to celibacy then, as with homosexuality, the whole human race would disappear. Modern philosophers have therefore found it hard to create a strong case for using Kant’s ideas when dealing with homosexuality.
