Sexual Ethics

• • cohabitation - not married but live together
  • consent - agreement to sex
  • extramarital sex - adulterous sex
  • betrothal - a promise
  • consummation- sex to finalise marriage
  • exclusivity - a commitment to one person
  • homosexuality- same sex attraction
  • premarital sex - sex before marriage
• Catholic views on marriage

  • a sacrament
  • open to the gift of children
  • against divorce, it is a union with God
  • sex must remain exclusive
• Catholic views on sex

  • unitive, brings couples closer
  • procreative/ should be ”open to the transmission of life”, children born out of wedlock are at risk of living in an unstable environment
  • JP2 - having sex with someone who is not your spouse threatens what is a sacred gift
  • against extramarital sex, 10 commandments are against adultery
• Catholic view on homosexuality

  • the act is wrong, the feeling is allowed as it is not a choice but innate
  • homosexual individuals must live a single life with chastity, and free of sexual expression
  • genitals serve purpose, homosexuality can not fulfil natural law
• The Bible on homosexuality

  • Genesis 19 - Lot sacrificed his own daughters to avoid association with homosexuality
  • Leviticus - homosexuality as ”an abomination“ because it is not comparable to heterosexuality
  • Corinthians 6:9-11 - homosexuals are lost on God’s path and will go to hell
  • Romans 1:26-27 - homosexuality as unnatural
• Kantian Ethics FOR

  • deontological, focuses on autonomy

  Pros

  • allows for dignity
  • the principle of universability, the right to express sexuality
  • emphasises mutual consent and avoiding exploitation
• Natural Law AGAINST

  • can’t create new life, goes against our telos

  Pros

  • prioritises the family
  • ordered society, children grow up in a stable unit

  Cons

  • outdated
  • not all heterosexual marriages can procreate, eg. infertility and old age
• Situation Ethics - Fletcher FOR

  Pros

  • prioritises agape, unloving to forbid homosexuality
  • personalistic
  • 4 working principles can be applied

  Cons

  • hard to apply 6 propositions
• Utilitarianism FOR/AGAINST


  Pros

  • prioritises happiness over harm, some argue they cause harm by undermining stable marriages
  • Mill’s liberty principle
  • more realistic, fits into contemporary society

  Cons

  • not clear, conflicting views
  • allows extramarital sex, can cause harm
• Secular views on sexual ethics 


  Mill’s liberty principle, humans should have sexual freedom in society

  • tolerance leads to a happier society
  • you can disagree with a view but must accept it
• Views on premarital sex

  • Aquinas - ❌ goes against the church
  • Kant - ❌ undermines society
  • Fletcher - ❌ lacks true love
  • Bentham - ✅ pleasure over pain
  • Mill - ✅
• Views on extramarital sex

  • Aquinas - ❌ against the church
  • Kant - ❌ promise keeping
  • Fletcher - ❌ not most loving thing
  • Bentham - ✅ pleasure over pain
  • Mill - ❌ harmful, links to no harm principle
• Views on homosexuality

  • Aquinas - ❌ against the church
  • Kant - ✅
  • Fletcher - ✅
  • Bentham - ✅ pleasure over pain
  • Mill - ✅