Sexual ethics

Question 1

What do early Biblical texts (i.e genesis, leviticus) suggest about sexuality?

Answer 1

• Women were made so men are not alone and are subservient to men
• Homosexuality is wrong
• Adultery is wrong

Question 2

According to Biblical text, what is the purpose of unity between a man and a woman?

Answer 2

• To reflect the unity of God
• Marriage is used as a metaphor for God’s relationship with his people

Question 3

What does Jesus say about divorce?

Answer 3

The only reason for divorce is adultery

Question 4

What is the Catholic church’s view on divorce?

Answer 4

They do not recognise divorce, only annulment in extreme situations

Question 5

What Bible verse can be used to show its view on homosexuality?

Answer 5

‘Thou shall not lie with mankind as with womankind’ Leviticus 18

Question 6

What three purposes did Aquinas observe sex has?

Answer 6

• Reproduction
• Pleasure
• Unity with partner

Question 7

According to Aquinas, what happens if the three purposes of sex were imbalanced?

Answer 7

Then it becomes a sin against natural law

Question 8

How would natural law view contraception?

Answer 8

Wrong as it does not allow reproduction

Question 9

How would natural law view adultery?

Answer 9

Wrong as it does not promote unity with partner

Question 10

What is an issue with the time of writing of natural law?

Answer 10

Aquinas was writing for a primitive culture where a liberal approach to sex may have led to disintegration of society- this is no longer the case.

Question 11

What may followers of Freud argue is wrong?

Answer 11

To deny someone of their sexual inclinations.

Question 12

What may a gay Christian argue about their nature?

Answer 12

It is their nature to be homosexual- got made them that way.

Question 13

What is a flaw in the assumptions natural law makes about sexuality?

Answer 13

Natural law assumes it is natural for everyone to reproduce. This is not the case. Many people do not have an inclination to reproduce.

Question 14

How does situation ethics approach sexual ethics?

Answer 14

Completely relativist so anything could be permitted as long as it promotes agape.

Question 15

How does situation ethics view marriage?

Answer 15

Marriage is not an intrinsic good. It can be extrinsically good if the marriage brings around agape.

Question 16

How does act utilitarianism view sexual ethics?

Answer 16

If sex leads to quantitively more pleasure than pain, then it is moral.

Question 17

What doe Bentham argue about pornography and prostitution?

Answer 17

They should be lawful as they are only offences against the self rather than society

Question 18

How does Mill’s rule utilitarianism approach sexual ethics?

Answer 18

• Takes a qualitative approach. We should aim for higher not base pleasures.
• Sex is a base pleasure, so not worth as much as higher pleasures such as poetry. Relationships based on more than just sex are better

Question 19

What does Mill argue in regard to sex and the law?

Answer 19

Sex should remain outside of the law as long as what people do does not affect others.

Question 20

When does Kant argue that sex is only moral, and why?

Answer 20

Inside a marriage, as this is a mutual contract that does not treat anyone as a means to an ends.

Question 21

What may a Kantian approach to homosexuality, adultery, etc suggest?

Answer 21

They are immoral as they cannot be universalised.

Question 22

What does Kant believe the purpose of marriage is?

Answer 22

Not pro creation, but for people of different sexes to have reciprocal possession of each other’s sexual facilities.

Question 23

What does Kant believe is a duty in marriage?

Answer 23

To have sex