In-depth and critical A01 + A02 notes and model paragraph structures for the Sexual Ethics topic, for the Religion and Ethics unit for OCR Religious Studies.
SEXUAL ETHICS
Ancient perspectives on Sex
Pythagoras: sex is a corruption that the body relies on, we must centralise
onto our souls
Stoics: Sex is a necessary evil needed for reproduction
Cynics: Orgies, ritual worship, and bacchanals
Practice of pederasty in the Greco-Roman era
Premarital and extramarital sex
Historical and contemporary views on Premarital sex
In the 1960s, less than 1 in 20 UK couples cohabited, but this has doubled
now (Contraceptive pills)
Anglo-Saxon England had betrothals, where they could have sex until they
married. Changes that meant women should be virgins at time of their
marriage, as men wanted to know whether their children were theirs
Christianity’s perspective on Premarital sex
Christianity regards cohabitation wrong as it less stable than a marriage
and represents a lack of moral discipline
Genesis: “That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to
his wife, and they become one flesh”
God approves of marriages (Miracle at the Wedding of Cana in John)
Humanae Vitae: “Husband and wife become in one way one heart and one
soul, and together attain their human fulfilment”
Catechism of Catholic Church: “Human love does not tolerate trial
marriages. It demands total and definitive gift of persons”- Premarital sex
means exclusion from sacramental communion
Anglican Church (General Synod) recognises that for some, cohabitation
may be sensible towards long-term commitment
Thatcher: Suggests ceremony and sacrament is the indication of marriage,
with Protestantism it is much more spiritual
Christian views on Extramarital sex
Catholic Church used to prohibit divorce, but since the Vatican II Council
there has been increased annulments.
“If a man commits adultery with the wife of his neighbour, both the
adulterer and adulteress shall be put to death”
Jesus asked for forgiveness rather than divorce
Cahill: Marriage was of the male prerogative, as men could carry out
extra-marital sex whilst condemning the woman to his effective servitude.
Christianisation simply perpetuated old practice.
UK is more conservative regarding sex within and outside marriage
Christianity firmly vouches for consent
Utilitarianism applied to the topic of Premarital and Extramarital sex
,Useful Not useful
The unnecessary effects of premarital The Hedonic Calculus being used to
sex are avoided situationally be using quantify pleasure is ironically very
contraceptive. This pleases everyone. cold and calculating for such a
(Rule) delicate matter
Extramarital sex always judged by Brief love and deep emotional bonds
case-by-case basis, as it could hurt can signal the same amount of
more in the outcome than intention. pleasure, meaning there needs a
(Act) qualitative measure (Mill > Bentham)
Taylor (Having Love Affairs):
Concealing affairs is best for
maximising happiness
Procreation is not the intention, in the If a spouse finds out about an affair, it
rejecting “nonsense on stilts” natural is unfair to suggest that the
law. (Both) consequence relies on a small thing
like whether they find out or not.
(Quantitative measure bad or “swine
ethic”)
Sex is a personal and private matter, Religion or Christian ethic ensures
with “minimal morality” required to be that regular human relationships have
delved into. The Laisse-faire or lack of an intrinsic value. We are Fallen and
normative measures suits our age. cannot truly rely on the ends as
(Most notable in Preference intention is always faulty. In other
Utilitarianism) (Non-Harm Principle) words, we are not smart enough to
truly think secularly.
Natural Law applied to the topic of Premarital and Extramarital sex
Useful approach Not useful
RC Church highlights that marriage Says Cohabitation is only an apparent
fulfils a unitive and procreative good: but committing beforehand
function. Marriage is a sacrament. doesn’t denies the ultimate goal of
marriage, it probably ensures it
Extramarital sex cannot be condoned Marriage can be important without
as it undermines three layers of sacrament, according to Protestant
natural law. tradition it can simply hold spiritual
weight
Aligns with the general British
conservative opinion on extramarital
sex
Premarital sex can be accepted if it Divorce is a no-go, which is not useful
attempts to fulfil the Primary Precepts regarding that annulments are
but fulfilling the secondary ones in the common now. Legalism is outdated
process.
, Doctrine of Double Effect
Telos is easy for everyone to Leiser: Suggests some sex doesn’t
understand, and it is built into the matter if children wouldn’t be made
universe even (Grotius) anyways- if a woman who’s gone
through menopause cheats on her
husband was there really a sin.
Highlights irrationality.
Finnis: Marriage mixes friendship and Sex being non-contraceptive is
reproduction, and cohabitation or co- irresponsible, furthermore suggesting
parenting threatens stability in a sexual ethics isn’t really a thing.
child’s life. Arguing whether a severely deformed
baby should be euthanised is another
debate from arguing whether his
parents should have had sex.
Kantian Ethics applied to the topic of Premarital and Extramarital sex
Useful Not useful
Consent is the most important thing, Suggestion that marital bonds are
as freedom and autonomy dominate more important to the Kingdom of
his theory. This can be expressed Ends than a cohabiting relationship is
within marital bonds or in committed wrong. (Kant vs Neo-Kantian view)
long-term relationships
Anything that objectifies or centralises If social rules protect the vulnerable,
unequal gratification is instantly pre-marital and extramarital sex still
unethical, which is good in exists out of the norm. Therefore,
establishing extramarital sex is always there is a chance inequality in the
wrong relationship will make
Lectures on Ethics: “one party thereby
seeks to withdraw from the primal
duty”
Contract-based developments Korsgaard: Kant fails to recognise that
suggests that sexual agreements are marriage as an institution utilises a
ethical if both parties fulfil their woman as a means to an end, which is
promises. Could justify sex work and inherently wrong.
sexual experimentation outside of a
promised relationship.
Neo-Kantians suggests that pre- WD Ross’s deontological pluralism:
nuptials establish obligations, that Having premarital sex and
marriage becomes less necessary extramarital sex is justifiable because
under the same philosophy. Kantian it helps people be happy, but it can be
ethics is useful as there is always overridden by the prima facie duty to
space for development try not to. Kantian theory is not this
flexible.
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