8. Sexual ethics: utilitarianism

?
  • Created by: Alasdair
  • Created on: 24-06-17 18:29
View mindmap
  • 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 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
      • 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
      • 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
    • 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
      • 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
    • 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

Comments

No comments have yet been made

Similar Religious Studies resources:

See all Religious Studies resources »See all Ethics resources »