Secular Responses to Sexual Ethics
- Created by: Lileh2002
- Created on: 17-09-19 11:40
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- Secular Responses to Sexual Ethics
- John Stuart Mill (1806-1873) - Rule Utilitarianism
- In his book: On Liberty (1859), written by Mill and his wife, Harriet Taylor Mill, they argued that individuals should be protected from 'unnecessary legal oversight' and the 'social attitudes of the masses'.
- More simply, Mill is arguing that people should be free from the tyranny (cruel and oppressive nature) of political power and the masses.
- Mill also argued that as long as no one is harmed by another, they should be free to behave as they choose.
- Mill questioned 'the nature and limits of the power which can legitimately exercised by society over the individual' (he questioned how much power society held over an individual). He expressed that individuals who are different should be protected.
- "...there needs to be protection also against the tyranny of the prevailing opinion and feeling" (On Liberty).
- Mill was worried to the extent of which religion forbids certain behavior. He was not opposed to marriage, in fact he wished to make marriage fairer. He believed that marriage should be of equal partnership and was especially concerned with the constraints the Christian view put on women.
- In his book: On Liberty (1859), written by Mill and his wife, Harriet Taylor Mill, they argued that individuals should be protected from 'unnecessary legal oversight' and the 'social attitudes of the masses'.
- Peter Singer (1946-present) - Preference Utilitarianism
- Singer argues for contraception to stop population growth.
- He goes as far as to suggest that aid to developing countries should be made conditional on the use of contraceptives.
- Singer argues for contraception to stop population growth.
- Dan Arel - Secular Activist
- Wrote two books titled: Parenting without God (2014) and The Secular Activist (2016).
- In Arel's book, Parenting without God he says: "They firmly believe morality is strictly their domain and try to overuse morality in the case of sex, sexual conduct, sexual relationships, sexual orientation, and gender identification. This leads to cultures like the purity culture and to crimes committed in the name of religion – acts that, in a secular world, would be viewed as immoral as any act can be but, under the banner of religion, are seen as heroic."
- Simply he is stating here that often Religion 'believe morality is strictly their domain' and as a consequence leads to crimes in the name of their religion. He also specifies this in terms of sex and related issues.
- He also comments that these are acts of which to a secular society would be seen as bad, however in terms of religion are seen as 'heroic'.
- Simply he is stating here that often Religion 'believe morality is strictly their domain' and as a consequence leads to crimes in the name of their religion. He also specifies this in terms of sex and related issues.
- In Arel's book, Parenting without God he says: "They firmly believe morality is strictly their domain and try to overuse morality in the case of sex, sexual conduct, sexual relationships, sexual orientation, and gender identification. This leads to cultures like the purity culture and to crimes committed in the name of religion – acts that, in a secular world, would be viewed as immoral as any act can be but, under the banner of religion, are seen as heroic."
- In Parenting Without God, Arel quotes Steven Weinburg to sum up his thoughts.
- I think Steven Weinberg captured this idea best when he said: “Religion is an insult to human dignity. With or without it, you’d have good people doing good things and evil people doing bad things, but for good people to do bad things, it takes religion.”
- You can link the ideas of Weinberg to sexual ethics, since he is stating that religion causes good people to do bad things. This could be linked to the Bible and how in Deuteronomy (22:28-29) it says how a women must marry her ******.
- "If a man happens to meet a virgin who is not pledged to be married and rapes her and they are discovered, he shall pay her father fifty shekels of silver. He must marry the young woman, for he has violated her. He can never divorce her as long as he lives."
- You can link the ideas of Weinberg to sexual ethics, since he is stating that religion causes good people to do bad things. This could be linked to the Bible and how in Deuteronomy (22:28-29) it says how a women must marry her ******.
- I think Steven Weinberg captured this idea best when he said: “Religion is an insult to human dignity. With or without it, you’d have good people doing good things and evil people doing bad things, but for good people to do bad things, it takes religion.”
- Wrote two books titled: Parenting without God (2014) and The Secular Activist (2016).
- Ethical Theory: Utilitarianism
- Since the basis of utilitarianism is to create the most amount of pleasure/happiness for the greatest number of people, it would focus mostly on the good things about sexual relationships (which brings about the most amount of happiness) whilst also reducing the negative acts and harm/pain.
- A utilitarian would argue that as long as the sex is consensual, then it is doing far more good then harm.
- Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832) - Act Utilitarianism
- Bentham argued that a mutual consent for pleasure cannot make any sexual act wrong, unless it were to cause harm to an individual (harm principal).
- However it does acknowledge the fact as far as pre-marital sex goes, utilitarianism would have to take into account of STI's and unwanted pregnancy's being a major risk. But with our modern day advances with contraception, this shouldn't be an issue... right?
- But they ma also claim that it is in human nature to have sex, so it is crucial to have contraceptives available. Since denying humans the right to have sex causes more emotional harm.
- Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832) - Act Utilitarianism
- Utilitarianism would argue for sex between two people of the same-sex, as long as it was consensual since it would create more pleasure/happiness then pain/harm.
- John Stuart Mill (1806-1873) - Rule Utilitarianism
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