Summary Religious studies OCR A level: Normative theories applied to sexual ethics
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Course
G582 - A2 Religious Ethics
Institution
OCR
This document provides essay plans based on all of the normative theories and applies them to sexual ethics. I.e. how useful are these normative theories to sexual ethics?
‘Kantian Ethics provides the best approach to sexual ethics’ Discuss
Does provide the best approach Does not provide the best approach
Kantian Ethics can be used to support Kantian Ethics is inflexible and does not
homosexuality – Kant focuses on the fact that consider consequences – Kant does not justify pre
humans are rational and autonomous beings – as and extra-marital sex because he says this uses
gay and lesbian people are human and rational then people as a means to an end. However, In some
gay sex can be expressed in a loving and mutually cases, we need to break the rules in order to create
committed manner. the most love. Fletcher justifies pre-marital and
However, in Kant’s categorical imperative, he extra-marital sex in some cases – in his examples a
argues that all rules should be put into a ‘universal woman needs to sleep with someone in order to
maxim’ meaning we should act in a way that we obtain information about the war, which would end
would want others to act too. This would not the war sooner. Doing this would save many people
support homosexuality as if being gay was from being killed during the war.
universalised, there would be no children therefore, Fletcher also justifies extra-marital sex in some
if we took the Kantian approach, we would have to cases, and he uses the example of a woman who has
disallow homosexuality. to fall pregnant in order to return to her husband.
This produces the greatest amount of love.
Fletcher – “sex outside of marriage is not always
wrong, even for Christians”
Kant’s ethics are appropriate for modern day – Pre-martial and extra-marital sex can be
due to his focus on human dignity. Also, Kant’s beneficial – For example, sex before marriage can
stance about adultery is in connection with public be beneficial to the individual given the scientific
opinion. A lot of people would agree that adultery explanations of the health of sex (relieves stress,
is wrong. However, not all of Kant’s values are in good for immune system etc).
line with modern day views – for example, a study Additionally, open relationships can justify extra-
showed that adultery rates have increased in the martial sex as this can be beneficial to both partners
UK. Therefore, people are becoming less strict if there is general consent between the pair.
about adultery rules.
‘Natural Law provides the best approach to sexual ethics’ Discuss
It does It doesn’t
It could benefit society – procreation increases the Focuses too much on procreation – what about
population – it enables children to have a proper women who cannot reproduce? Are they never
nurturing environment in which to grow. allowed to have sex?
However, it could actually negatively benefit
society – marriage is sometimes seen as oppressive
towards women and in modern day we do not need
to increase the population (in fact increasing this
would be the opposite of beneficial)
Objective moral laws are easier to follow – The Utilitarianism is better – It focuses on the ‘harm
primary precepts provides a guideline for rules and principle’ -
allows humans to easily follow the rules instead of
using our flawed reason (Augustine) – Although,
Aquinas does acknowledge that we need to use the
secondary precepts to work out what is the best
decision.
‘Situation ethics provides the best approach to sexual ethics’ Discuss
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