Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
Chapter Seven: Sexual Morality The Traditional View of Sexual Morality • All sex outside marriage is wrong • View that everything in nature has a purpose, derived from Aristotle and Aquinas • The purpose of human beings is to engage in fully human love, which must accompany sex and be conducted within marriage The Libertarian View of Sexual Morality • Sex is an activity like any other • Standards for morality are no different from other activities • Defense of sexual libertarianism: why shouldn’t sex be treated like any other activity? Issues to consider in this debate • Venereal diseases and AIDS? • Threats to the family? • Personal fulfillment? • Naturalness? SEXUALITY AND PRIVACY A. The Main Ethical Question: Which of the following sorts of sexual practices are morally permissible: • C1: Consensual "orthodox" protected sexual relations in private between adults who are married, and who have a loving monogamous relationship. • C2: Consensual "orthodox" protected sexual relations in private between adults who are not married, but who have a loving monogamous relationship. Sexual Relations • C3: Consensual "orthodox" protected sexual relations in private between adults who are not married, and who do not have a loving monogamous relationship. • C4: Consensual "orthodox" unprotected sexual relations in private between adults who are not married, and who do not have a loving monogamous relationship. • C5: Consensual "non-orthodox" protected heterosexual sexual relations in private between adults who are married, and who have a loving monogamous relationship. • C6: Consensual homosexual protected sexual relations in private between adults who have a loving monogamous relationship. Above "orthodox" is short for "penilevaginal intercourse". Oral, manual, and anal intercourse are "non-orthodox", as is group sex. • Above "protected" is short for "reasonably (but perhaps not perfectly) protected against both pregnancy and against venereal disease". "Unprotected" will be short for "not reasonably protected against either". (We'll ignore mixed cases.) • Assume that all sexual relations with children, with non-consenting individuals, or in public, are forbidden. • Assume that no deception (e.g., lying) or infidelity (breaking of an agreement) is involved. • Where the sex is unprotected, consider variations based on (1) how likely it is that one or both of the partners has a venereal disease, and (2) how likely it is that one or both of the partners is willing and able to take responsibility for any children they might create. B. The Main Political Question: • What sorts of laws regulating sexual practices between consenting adults in private are permissible? In particular, consider the following each of the above practices and ask: • (a) Is it morally permissible for the law to allow such abortions? • (b) Is it morally permissible for the law to prohibit such abortions? enforcement will be involved. Here are some basic models: 1. Effective non-enforcement: The law is on the books but almost never invoked. 2. Passive enforcement: The police investigate a case only if credible evidence of illegal activity is brought to their attention by a private citizen (not employed by the police) or from an independent police investigation on some other matter. Here are some basic models: 1. Moderate active enforcement: As above plus the police have undercover agents who search out leads (as they do for illegal drug sales and prostitution). 2. Radical active enforcement: As above plus the police engage in occasional random searches of homes (e.g., with roughly the same frequency as with random sobriety checks for drivers). Enforcement? 1. Moderate active enforcement: As above plus the police have undercover agents who search out leads (as they do for illegal drug sales and prostitution). 2. Radical active enforcement: As above plus the police engage in occasional random searches of homes (e.g., with roughly the same frequency as with random sobriety checks for drivers). Enforcement?? 3.) Moderate active enforcement: As above plus the police have undercover agents who search out leads (as they do for illegal drug sales and prostitution). 4.) Radical active enforcement: As above plus the police engage in occasional random searches of homes (e.g., with roughly the same frequency as with random sobriety checks for drivers). C. SOME MAIN QUESTIONS: • 2. To what extent is it legitimate for the state to prohibit harmless activities that violate the prevailing social norms (e.g., marriage and the traditional family). For example, suppose the prevailing social norms dictated that people sleep with all their clothes on (that being viewed as the way "one should sleep"). Would it be permissible for the law to prohibit sleeping in the nude (in the privacy of one's home)? As other examples, consider sex, contraception, and gambling. • Possible Positives of specified sexual practices or laws that allow specified sexual practices • (Possible Negatives of law prohibiting specified sexual practices) • 1. Respects or protects (does not protect) personal liberty to do things that do not directly and significantly harm anyone else. (Obj: Such activities harm the community's social fabric.) • 2. Happiness (loss of happiness) of those who would like to engage in those activities. • 3. No financial costs (financial costs) of enforcement (for laws) • 4. Reduced (increased) number of underground abortions (for laws where pregnancy would indicate violation of law). • • • • • • Possible Negatives of specified sexual practices or laws that allow specified sexual practices (Possible Positives of law prohibiting specified sexual practices) 1. Undermines (does not undermine) the prevailing social norms (e.g. traditional family values). (Obj1: But some of the prevailing social norms are mistaken. Remember slavery, and women not having the vote. Obj2: Even if the social norms are correct, it is illegitimate for the state to enforce them. The state should only prohibit activities that harm others.) 2. Increased (decreased) immoral activities (for political case only; not applicable for ethical case) (Obj1: Activities are not immoral. Obj2: Even if immoral not legitimate for the state to prohibit because they do not harm others.) 3. Increased (decreased) venereal disease. 4. Increased (decreased) number of children out of wedlock. “Sexual Morality” Roger Scruton • Aristotelian analysis to support the traditional view of morality • Morality is a constraint on practical reasoning and must be based on the permanent features of human nature • The goal of human conduct is eudaimonia (happiness or fulfillment) • The best model of moral reasoning is moral education “Plain Sex” Alan H. Goldman • Defense of the libertarian position • Rejection of “means-end” analysis that sex should be evaluated only as a means to an end (love, reproduction) • Sexual behavior should be evaluated by the moral norms we “Why Homosexuality Is Abnormal” Michael Levin • It is abnormal because it misuses human body parts • It leads to the unhappiness of homosexuals • It should not be legalized, as it would encourage children to pursue a life of unhappiness “Homosexuality and Nature” Timothy F. Murphy • Criticism of Levin’s position that homosexuality is abnormal • Evolution does not give us a standard for normal and abnormal behavior • The happiness of homosexuals would be enhanced if discrimination against them was eliminated • Legal protections for homosexuals would improve their happiness • End