8. Sexual ethics: utilitarianism
- Created by: Alasdair
- Created on: 24-06-17 18:29
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- 8. Sexual ethics: utilitarianism
- Marriage and sex
- A libertarian view as it allows people free choice
- Pleasure is the intrinsic good
- So sex for pleasure is good.
- Means sex outside marriage is permissible
- Sex must be in line with contractarianism
- Sex must be consensual act, so **** would be immoral
- But is consent enough? Sex with minors is still illegal
- Sex must be consensual act, so **** would be immoral
- Sex must be in line with the liberty harm principle
- No one must be harmed, so ****/sexual coercion is ruled out
- Mill
- Sex is a lower pleasure but freedom of expression and liberty are higher pleasures
- These must be combined with contractarianism and the harm principle to guide on what is sexually right and wrong
- e.g. the freedom to have sex with a spouse to express love and commitment is a higher pleasure
- The desire to have sex simply for pleasure is a lower pleasure
- Can lead to immoral acts (such as ****)
- The best approach is to combine higher pleasures with lower pleasures
- These must be combined with contractarianism and the harm principle to guide on what is sexually right and wrong
- Sex is a lower pleasure but freedom of expression and liberty are higher pleasures
- The use of contraception is permissible as it often benefits/brings happiness to all
- If contraception wasn't used, then a negative outcome might be abortion due to an unwanted pregnancy which may upset some people
- Divorce/adultery
- Bentham
- Seeks happiness for the greatest amount of people
- If divorce makes the most people happy then it is acceptable
- However, this can also allow adultery/polygamy
- as this may lead to more people being happy than being unhappy
- However, this can also allow adultery/polygamy
- If divorce makes the most people happy then it is acceptable
- Seeks happiness for the greatest amount of people
- Mill
- Avoidance of pain for every individual is the most important
- Therefore adultery is immoral as it leads to harm of at least one person
- Divorce is permissible by all if it leads to greater happiness/pleasure
- Avoidance of pain for every individual is the most important
- Bentham
- Homosexuality
- Contractarianism
- If sex between homosexual people is consensual then it is fine
- Harm principle
- Is no harm is done then it is fine
- However, there may be damage to society
- e.g. if everyone was gay
- Highly unlikely
- e.g. if everyone was gay
- However, there may be damage to society
- Is no harm is done then it is fine
- Cultural relativism
- In some societies homosexuality is illegal and people from that culture disagree with it
- In this sense,, it would cause more unhappiness than happiness
- However, Bentham argues that those who condemn homosexuality mostly do so out of prejudice and religious indoctrination rather than actual reason
- In some societies homosexuality is illegal and people from that culture disagree with it
- Contractarianism
- Evaluation
- Positives
- Allows expression of sexuality and desire
- Unashamed focus on pleasure
- Emancipation of women - recognises their sexuality
- Equality
- With acts of sex, enjoyment of sex
- Encourages same-sex relationships
- Negatives
- Reducing humans to animals (pain and pleasure)
- Human need to satisfy desire immediately
- Allowing/encouraging negative context for sex
- Act of sex can devalue
- Lowers self-esteem
- Encourages promiscuity
- Can lead to greater STDs and higher teen pregnancies
- Increased abortion
- Positives
- Marriage and sex
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