2.9.4

Examining Sexual Ethics

Test yourself on Examining Sexual Ethics

Test your knowledge with free interactive questions on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

Examining Sexual Ethics

Sexual ethics involves evaluating moral principles guiding sexual behaviour.

Changing societal attitudes

Changing societal attitudes influence discussions on sexual ethics.
- Debates focus on the role of religion, privacy vs. societal norms, and the use of normative theories.
These discussions help shape contemporary views on sexual conduct and relationships.

The role of religious beliefs in sexual ethics

The role of religious beliefs in sexual ethics

Religious beliefs traditionally guided moral views on sex and relationships.
Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism provide teachings on marriage, chastity, and fidelity.
- Some argue religious influence on sexual ethics is waning due to secularism.
- Others maintain religious values continue shaping personal and societal norms.

Privacy vs societal norms in sexual behaviour

Privacy vs societal norms in sexual behaviour

Individuals may argue sexual choices should be private, respecting personal autonomy.
Societal norms and laws often regulate sexual conduct to promote social order and protect rights.
- Legislation can impact areas like age of consent, marriage laws, and discrimination.
The balance between personal freedom and social responsibility remains debated.

Usefulness of normative theories in sexual ethics

Usefulness of normative theories in sexual ethics

Normative theories offer frameworks for assessing sexual behaviour.
- Natural law emphasises adherence to natural purposes and order in relationships.
- Situation ethics values love and context in determining moral actions.
- Kantian ethics and utilitarianism provide perspectives on duty and consequences.
Some argue their utility varies, depending on cultural and personal contexts.

Example: Religious influence and legal debates

Example: Religious influence and legal debates

In 2013, the UK legalised same-sex marriage, sparking widespread debate.
- Religious groups often opposed based on traditional teachings about marriage.
- Legal discussions included privacy rights and societal equality.
This example highlights complexities in balancing religious beliefs, individual rights, and social norms.

1

Philosophy of Religion

1.1

Ancient Philosophical Influences: Plato

1.1.1Plato's Understanding of Reality 1.1.2Plato's Theory of Forms 1.1.3Plato's Analogy of the Cave 1.1.4The Purpose of Plato's Analogy of the Cave 1.1.5Evaluation of Plato's Theories

1.2

Ancient Philosophical Influences: Aristotle

1.2.1Aristotle's Understanding of Reality 1.2.2Aristotle's Four Causes 1.2.3Aristotle's Prime Mover

1.3

Ancient Philosophical Influences: Soul, Mind, Body

1.3.1Plato & Aristotle's Views of the Soul 1.3.2Metaphysics of Consciousness 1.3.3Materialism - Ryle’s Philosophical Behaviourism 1.3.4Materialism - Identity Theory

1.4

The Existence of God - Arguments from Observation

1.4.1The Teleological Argument - Aquinas' Fifth Way 1.4.2The Teleological Argument - Paley & Evolution 1.4.3The Cosmological Argument 1.4.4Hume's Criticisms: Teleological & Cosmological

1.5

The Existence of God - Arguments from Reason

1.5.1The Ontological Argument 1.5.2Criticisms of the Ontological Argument

1.6

Religious Experience

1.6.1Introduction to Religious Experience 1.6.2Mystical Experience 1.6.3Conversion Experience 1.6.4Understanding Religious Experience 1.6.5Issues Relating to Religious Experience - Validity 1.6.6Issues Relating to Religious Experiences - People

1.7

The Problem of Evil

1.7.1Presentations of the Problems of Evil 1.7.2Discussion Points -

1.8

The Nature & Attributes of God

1.8.1Omnipotence 1.8.2Omniscience 1.8.3Boethius - Divine Knowledge, Free Will & Eternity 1.8.4(Omni)benevolence 1.8.5Eternity & Free Will

1.9

Religious Language: Negative, Analogical, Symbolic

1.9.1Apophatic & Cataphatic Way 1.9.2Symbol 1.9.3Discussion Points: Religious Language

1.10

Religious Language: 20th Century Perspective

1.10.1Logical Positivism & Verification Principle 1.10.2Wittgenstein 1.10.3Falsification Symposium: Flew & Hare 1.10.4Falsification Symposium: Mitchell 1.10.5Discussion Points: Verification & Falsification 1.10.6Discussion Points: Aquinas vs Wittgenstein

2

Religion & Ethics

2.1

Natural Law

2.1.1St Thomas Aquinas - Telos & Four Tiers of Law 2.1.2St Thomas Aquinas - Precepts 2.1.3St Thomas Aquinas - Real & Apparent Goods 2.1.4Discussion Points - Natural Law & Doing Good 2.1.5Discussion Points - Telos & Double Effect Doctrine

2.2

Situation Ethics

2.2.1Fletcher's Situation Ethics 2.2.2Fletcher's Concept of Conscience 2.2.3Discussion Points: Moral Decision-Making 2.2.4Discussion Points - Agape

2.3

Kantian Ethics

2.3.1Introduction to Kantian Ethics & Duty 2.3.2Hypothetical & Categorical Imperative 2.3.3Summum Bonum & Three Postulates 2.3.4Discussion Points: Kantian Ethics

2.4

Utilitarianism

2.4.1The Utility Principle 2.4.2Act & Rule Utilitarianism 2.4.3Discussion Points: Utilitarianism

2.5

Euthanasia

2.5.1Key Concepts for Euthanasia Debates 2.5.2Discussion Points: Natural Law & Situation Ethics 2.5.3Discussion Points: Sanctity of Life 2.5.4Discussion Points: Autonomy & Medical Intervention

2.6

Business Ethics

2.6.1Corporate Social Responsibility & Whistle-Blowing 2.6.2Good Ethics & Globalisation 2.6.3Discussion Points: Utilitarianism & Kantian Ethics 2.6.4Discussion Points: CSR, Globalisation & Capitalism

2.7

Meta-Ethical Theories

2.7.1Naturalism 2.7.2Intuitionism 2.7.3Emotivism 2.7.4Meta-Ethics

2.8

Conscience

2.8.1Aquinas' Theological Approach 2.8.2Freud's Psychological Approach 2.8.3Comparing Aquinas & Freud

2.9

Sexual Ethics

2.9.1Sexual Ethics 2.9.2Development of Religious Beliefs on Sexual Ethics 2.9.3Application of Sexual Ethics 2.9.4Examining Sexual Ethics

3

Developments in Christian Thought

3.1

Saint Augustine's Teachings

3.1.1Human Nature 3.1.2Original Sin & God's Grace

3.2

Death & the Afterlife

3.2.1Heaven, Hell, & Purgatory 3.2.2Different Interpretations of the Afterlife 3.2.3Election 3.2.4The Final Judgement 3.2.5Discussion Points: Heaven, Hell & Purgatory

3.3

Knowledge of God's Existence

3.3.1Natural Knowledge 3.3.2Revealed Knowledge in Faith, Grace, & Jesus Christ 3.3.3Revealed Knowledge in the Bible & Church 3.3.4Discussion Points: Reason & Belief in God 3.3.5Discussion Points: The Fall & Trust in God

3.4

The Person of Jesus Christ

3.4.1Jesus Christ’s Authority as the Son of God 3.4.2Jesus Christ’s Authority as a Teacher of Wisdom 3.4.3Jesus Christ’s Authority as a Liberator

3.5

Christian Moral Principles

3.5.1The Bible & Love 3.5.2Bible, Church & Reason 3.5.3Discussion Points: Christian Ethics 3.5.4Discussion Points: Love & the Bible

3.6

Christian Moral Action

3.6.1Dietrich Bonhoeffer & the Confessing Church 3.6.2Bonhoeffer & Civil Disobedience 3.6.3Bonhoeffer's Teaching on Ethics as Action 3.6.4Discussion Points: Civil Disobedience & Bonhoeffer

3.7

Development - Pluralism & Theology

3.7.1Pluralism & Theology: Exclusivism & Inclusivism 3.7.2Pluralism & Theology: Pluralism 3.7.3Discussion Points: Salvation 3.7.4Discussion Points: Pluralism Undermining Beliefs

3.8

Development - Pluralism & Society

3.8.1Development of Multi-Faith Societies 3.8.2Responses to Inter-Faith Dialogue 3.8.3The Scriptural Reasoning Movement 3.8.4Discussion Points: Social Cohesion & Scripture 3.8.5Discussion Points: Conversion

3.9

Gender & Society

3.9.1Waves of Feminism 3.9.2Traditional Christian Views on Gender Roles 3.9.3Christian Views on Gender Roles & Family 3.9.4Discussion Points: Secular Views of Gender 3.9.5Discussion Points: Motherhood & Family

3.10

Gender & Theology

3.10.1Rosemary Radford Ruether 3.10.2Mary Daly 3.10.3Discussion Points: Ruether & Daly 3.10.4Discussion Points: Male Saviour & Female God

3.11

Challenges

3.11.1Secularism - Sigmund Freud 3.11.2Secularism - Richard Dawkins 3.11.3Christianity & Public Life 3.11.4Discussion Points: Spiritual Values 3.11.5Discussion Points: Social Values & Opportunities 3.11.6Karl Marx 3.11.7Liberation Theology

Jump to other topics

1

Philosophy of Religion

1.1

Ancient Philosophical Influences: Plato

1.1.1Plato's Understanding of Reality 1.1.2Plato's Theory of Forms 1.1.3Plato's Analogy of the Cave 1.1.4The Purpose of Plato's Analogy of the Cave 1.1.5Evaluation of Plato's Theories

1.2

Ancient Philosophical Influences: Aristotle

1.2.1Aristotle's Understanding of Reality 1.2.2Aristotle's Four Causes 1.2.3Aristotle's Prime Mover

1.3

Ancient Philosophical Influences: Soul, Mind, Body

1.3.1Plato & Aristotle's Views of the Soul 1.3.2Metaphysics of Consciousness 1.3.3Materialism - Ryle’s Philosophical Behaviourism 1.3.4Materialism - Identity Theory

1.4

The Existence of God - Arguments from Observation

1.4.1The Teleological Argument - Aquinas' Fifth Way 1.4.2The Teleological Argument - Paley & Evolution 1.4.3The Cosmological Argument 1.4.4Hume's Criticisms: Teleological & Cosmological

1.5

The Existence of God - Arguments from Reason

1.5.1The Ontological Argument 1.5.2Criticisms of the Ontological Argument

1.6

Religious Experience

1.6.1Introduction to Religious Experience 1.6.2Mystical Experience 1.6.3Conversion Experience 1.6.4Understanding Religious Experience 1.6.5Issues Relating to Religious Experience - Validity 1.6.6Issues Relating to Religious Experiences - People

1.7

The Problem of Evil

1.7.1Presentations of the Problems of Evil 1.7.2Discussion Points -

1.8

The Nature & Attributes of God

1.8.1Omnipotence 1.8.2Omniscience 1.8.3Boethius - Divine Knowledge, Free Will & Eternity 1.8.4(Omni)benevolence 1.8.5Eternity & Free Will

1.9

Religious Language: Negative, Analogical, Symbolic

1.9.1Apophatic & Cataphatic Way 1.9.2Symbol 1.9.3Discussion Points: Religious Language

1.10

Religious Language: 20th Century Perspective

1.10.1Logical Positivism & Verification Principle 1.10.2Wittgenstein 1.10.3Falsification Symposium: Flew & Hare 1.10.4Falsification Symposium: Mitchell 1.10.5Discussion Points: Verification & Falsification 1.10.6Discussion Points: Aquinas vs Wittgenstein

2

Religion & Ethics

2.1

Natural Law

2.1.1St Thomas Aquinas - Telos & Four Tiers of Law 2.1.2St Thomas Aquinas - Precepts 2.1.3St Thomas Aquinas - Real & Apparent Goods 2.1.4Discussion Points - Natural Law & Doing Good 2.1.5Discussion Points - Telos & Double Effect Doctrine

2.2

Situation Ethics

2.2.1Fletcher's Situation Ethics 2.2.2Fletcher's Concept of Conscience 2.2.3Discussion Points: Moral Decision-Making 2.2.4Discussion Points - Agape

2.3

Kantian Ethics

2.3.1Introduction to Kantian Ethics & Duty 2.3.2Hypothetical & Categorical Imperative 2.3.3Summum Bonum & Three Postulates 2.3.4Discussion Points: Kantian Ethics

2.4

Utilitarianism

2.4.1The Utility Principle 2.4.2Act & Rule Utilitarianism 2.4.3Discussion Points: Utilitarianism

2.5

Euthanasia

2.5.1Key Concepts for Euthanasia Debates 2.5.2Discussion Points: Natural Law & Situation Ethics 2.5.3Discussion Points: Sanctity of Life 2.5.4Discussion Points: Autonomy & Medical Intervention

2.6

Business Ethics

2.6.1Corporate Social Responsibility & Whistle-Blowing 2.6.2Good Ethics & Globalisation 2.6.3Discussion Points: Utilitarianism & Kantian Ethics 2.6.4Discussion Points: CSR, Globalisation & Capitalism

2.7

Meta-Ethical Theories

2.7.1Naturalism 2.7.2Intuitionism 2.7.3Emotivism 2.7.4Meta-Ethics

2.8

Conscience

2.8.1Aquinas' Theological Approach 2.8.2Freud's Psychological Approach 2.8.3Comparing Aquinas & Freud

2.9

Sexual Ethics

2.9.1Sexual Ethics 2.9.2Development of Religious Beliefs on Sexual Ethics 2.9.3Application of Sexual Ethics 2.9.4Examining Sexual Ethics

3

Developments in Christian Thought

3.1

Saint Augustine's Teachings

3.1.1Human Nature 3.1.2Original Sin & God's Grace

3.2

Death & the Afterlife

3.2.1Heaven, Hell, & Purgatory 3.2.2Different Interpretations of the Afterlife 3.2.3Election 3.2.4The Final Judgement 3.2.5Discussion Points: Heaven, Hell & Purgatory

3.3

Knowledge of God's Existence

3.3.1Natural Knowledge 3.3.2Revealed Knowledge in Faith, Grace, & Jesus Christ 3.3.3Revealed Knowledge in the Bible & Church 3.3.4Discussion Points: Reason & Belief in God 3.3.5Discussion Points: The Fall & Trust in God

3.4

The Person of Jesus Christ

3.4.1Jesus Christ’s Authority as the Son of God 3.4.2Jesus Christ’s Authority as a Teacher of Wisdom 3.4.3Jesus Christ’s Authority as a Liberator

3.5

Christian Moral Principles

3.5.1The Bible & Love 3.5.2Bible, Church & Reason 3.5.3Discussion Points: Christian Ethics 3.5.4Discussion Points: Love & the Bible

3.6

Christian Moral Action

3.6.1Dietrich Bonhoeffer & the Confessing Church 3.6.2Bonhoeffer & Civil Disobedience 3.6.3Bonhoeffer's Teaching on Ethics as Action 3.6.4Discussion Points: Civil Disobedience & Bonhoeffer

3.7

Development - Pluralism & Theology

3.7.1Pluralism & Theology: Exclusivism & Inclusivism 3.7.2Pluralism & Theology: Pluralism 3.7.3Discussion Points: Salvation 3.7.4Discussion Points: Pluralism Undermining Beliefs

3.8

Development - Pluralism & Society

3.8.1Development of Multi-Faith Societies 3.8.2Responses to Inter-Faith Dialogue 3.8.3The Scriptural Reasoning Movement 3.8.4Discussion Points: Social Cohesion & Scripture 3.8.5Discussion Points: Conversion

3.9

Gender & Society

3.9.1Waves of Feminism 3.9.2Traditional Christian Views on Gender Roles 3.9.3Christian Views on Gender Roles & Family 3.9.4Discussion Points: Secular Views of Gender 3.9.5Discussion Points: Motherhood & Family

3.10

Gender & Theology

3.10.1Rosemary Radford Ruether 3.10.2Mary Daly 3.10.3Discussion Points: Ruether & Daly 3.10.4Discussion Points: Male Saviour & Female God

3.11

Challenges

3.11.1Secularism - Sigmund Freud 3.11.2Secularism - Richard Dawkins 3.11.3Christianity & Public Life 3.11.4Discussion Points: Spiritual Values 3.11.5Discussion Points: Social Values & Opportunities 3.11.6Karl Marx 3.11.7Liberation Theology

Practice questions on Examining Sexual Ethics

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

1
What do normative theories provide when assessing sexual behaviour?Multiple choice
2
Which religions traditionally provide teachings on marriage, chastity, and fidelity?Fill in the list

Answer all questions on Examining Sexual Ethics

Unlock your full potential with Seneca Premium

Unlimited access to 10,000+ open-ended exam questions
Mini-mock exams based on your study history
Unlock 800+ premium courses & e-books

Get started with Seneca Premium

Application of Sexual Ethics

Human Nature