Welcome to Developments in Ethical Thought: Sexual Ethics
In this chapter, we are going to explore how ethical theories and religious beliefs deal with one of the most personal and debated areas of human life: sexual ethics. We will look at how attitudes toward sex and relationships have shifted over time and how different "moral toolkits" (like Natural Law or Utilitarianism) help people decide what is right or wrong.
Understanding this is vital because it shows how abstract theories work in the real world. Don't worry if it seems like a lot of conflicting opinions at first—that is exactly what the examiners want you to discuss!
1. The Big Three: Areas of Study
The OCR syllabus focuses on three main areas. Let’s break them down into simple terms:
A. Premarital Sex
This is sex between two people who are not married to each other but might be in a committed relationship. In the past, this was often called "fornication" and was widely seen as wrong by religious groups. Today, it is socially "the norm" in many secular (non-religious) societies.
B. Extramarital Sex
This is often called adultery. It’s when a married person has sex with someone other than their spouse. Almost all ethical and religious systems find this more problematic than premarital sex because it involves breaking a vow or a promise of fidelity (faithfulness).
C. Homosexuality
This refers to sexual attraction or activity between members of the same sex. Attitudes toward this have changed more rapidly in the last 50 years than almost any other area of ethics, moving from being illegal in the UK to being protected by marriage equality laws.
Quick Review: Sexual ethics isn't just about "rules." It's about how we value commitment, consent, and tradition.
2. Religious Influence and the Shift Over Time
Traditional religious views often follow a deontological (rule-based) approach. However, these views aren't stuck in stone; they have evolved.
Traditional Religious Beliefs
Historically, most Christian traditions (and many others) believed that sex was a gift from God, but it only belonged within heterosexual marriage. This was based on the idea of procreation (having children) and union (joining a couple together).
How Beliefs Have Changed
Many religious institutions have moved from a "rules-first" approach to a "people-first" approach. For example:
• The Church of England: Has had many internal debates. While some hold to traditional views, others emphasize the importance of stable, loving relationships, even if they aren't traditional marriages. (Think of this like a software update—the core values are there, but the application is different for the modern world).
• The Roman Catholic Church: Generally maintains a more traditional stance. For instance, the document Humanae Vitae (1968) reinforces that sex must remain open to the possibility of children.
The Impact of Secularism
Secularism is the idea that religious beliefs should not dictate the laws of a country. As society has become more secular, the "legality" of sex has shifted to focus almost entirely on consent and age rather than religious "sin."
Key Takeaway: Religious views have moved along a spectrum—some stay strictly traditional, while others adapt to emphasize Agape (love) over strict law.
3. Applying the Ethical Theories
This is the most important part of your exam. You need to know how to use these four "moral lenses" to look at sexual behavior.
A. Natural Law (The "Rulebook" approach)
Created by Thomas Aquinas, this theory says everything has a telos (purpose). To find out if an act is good, we look at the Primary Precepts.
• The Logic: One of the main precepts is the procreation of children. Therefore, any sexual act that cannot result in a baby (homosexuality, use of contraception in premarital sex) is often seen as "wrong" because it goes against the "natural" design.
• Analogy: Using a key to open a bottle instead of a lock. It's using the tool for the "wrong" purpose.
B. Situation Ethics (The "Love" approach)
Joseph Fletcher argued that Agape (selfless love) is the only rule.
• The Logic: If a premarital relationship is genuinely loving and helps the people grow, it could be seen as "good." There are no hard "never" rules. Even homosexuality is judged on whether it serves love, not whether it fits a tradition.
• Encouraging Phrase: Don't worry if this feels "too soft"—just remember that Agape is meant to be a demanding, selfless love, not just "doing whatever feels good."
C. Kantian Ethics (The "Reason" approach)
Immanuel Kant believed in using logic and duty.
• The Logic: Use the Categorical Imperative. Could you turn your behavior into a "Universal Law"? If everyone committed adultery, the concept of marriage would vanish. Therefore, adultery is wrong. He also taught that we must treat people as ends in themselves, never as a "means to an end" (meaning: don't use people just for sex).
D. Utilitarianism (The "Happiness" approach)
Founded by Bentham and Mill, this is teleological—it looks at the results (consequences).
• The Logic: Does the sexual act result in the greatest happiness for the greatest number? In a secular world, if two adults consent to premarital sex and it makes them happy without hurting anyone, Utilitarians generally say "go for it."
• Common Mistake: Students often forget about "harm." Utilitarians would be very much against extramarital sex (adultery) because it usually causes massive pain to the spouse and children, outweighing the short-term pleasure of the affair.
Quick Review Box: Use the "S.U.N.K." Mnemonic!
S - Situation Ethics (Love)
U - Utilitarianism (Happiness/Harm)
N - Natural Law (Purpose/Procreation)
K - Kantian Ethics (Duty/Universal Law)
4. Debates and Discussion Points
To get the top marks, you need to evaluate. Here are some "thinking points" for your essays:
Is religion still relevant?
Some argue that religious sexual ethics are "outdated" and don't fit a world that values individual freedom. Others argue that religious values provide a shield against the "hook-up culture" where people might be treated like objects.
Private vs. Public?
Should the law stay out of the bedroom? Most modern thinkers (like J.S. Mill) argue that as long as there is consent and no one is harmed, the state has no business telling people who to love or how to have sex.
Are the theories actually useful?
Natural Law is clear but can be seen as too rigid. Situation Ethics is flexible but can be used to justify almost anything. Your job is to weigh these up!
Did you know? The UK legalised private homosexual acts between men over 21 in 1967, but it wasn't until 2014 that same-sex marriage became legal in England and Wales. This shows how slowly "traditional" views change into "legal" reality!
Final Summary Takeaway
Sexual ethics is a tug-of-war between tradition (Natural Law/Traditional Religion) and autonomy (Utilitarianism/Situation Ethics). When writing your exam, always ask: Is the act being judged by its purpose, the rules it breaks, the love it shows, or the happiness it creates? If you can answer that for each theory, you are well on your way to an A!