Transcript Virtue Ethics and Sexuality

Sexual Ethics
from a
Virtue Ethics Perspective
Applied to issues of:
Adultery: sex outside Marriage.
Polygamy.
Contraception.
Homosexuality.
What is Virtue Ethics
and
Sexual Ethics?
Virtue Ethics is concerned with the agent becoming
a virtuous person through practising morally good
behaviour. This is achieved by copying from a role
model.
Sexual Ethics deals with issues arising from
sexuality and human sexual behaviour. Whilst also
relating to the community and personal desires
such as fornication i.e. sex before marriage;
Adultery i.e. sex outside marriage; polygamy;
contraception and Homosexuality.
Sexual Ethics
from a
Virtue Ethics Perspective.
In relation to sexual ethics, Virtue Ethics would seek
to find out how a person can develop virtuously
through sex. Virtue ethics does not provide a method
for knowing what to do, except to be a virtuous
person by developing into the type of person they
ought to be.
Main issues in Virtue Ethics include the ideas of love,
friendship, companionship, faithfulness, commitment
and trust.
What would a virtuous person say
about polygamy?
A virtuous person would say Polygamy is right if the person
loves all the women within the relationship because this would
be one being a virtuous person and doing a virtuous act.
From a virtue ethics perspective towards issues of sex and
relationships, it is more likely to be tolerant towards sexual
activities such as Polygamy and Homosexuality.
This is because Virtue Ethics does not focus on what the right
or wrong action in a situation might be, but focuses on the
moral development of a person through their actions.
Therefore by developing sexual intimacy and investing in
another person, a person is becoming more virtuous, by being
generous with a gift of oneself rather than using a partner as a
means of sexual gratification, which could be seen as virtuous.
What would a virtuous person say
about Homosexuality?
The Virtue theory focuses on ones telos, purpose and
how we should act to be useful and potent in society.
When considering the issue of homosexuality this
links in with the Natural Law theory because both
theories focus on the telos of human beings.
For example, if a person is gay or lesbian, they will
not have children naturally, taking this into account, it
seems that both theories would prefer it for
relationships between two men or two women to be
allowed as this way the couples can play a role in
society, which is structured and allows for order in
society and is similar to straight couples.
Virtue Ethics applied to Adultery
A virtuous person would say that Adultery is wrong
because he or she is not being faithful to their
partner within the relationship. This therefore brings
about less trust and love. Therefore a person who
commits adultery is not being a virtuous person.
Virtue ethics aims to shape what one desires as well
as what one does, it presumes there is a right and
wrong in sexual conduct. Whilst maintaining a 3 way
balance of intimate care, humanitarian care and self
care is of importance to allow justice, fairness and to
treat each person with dignity.
What would a virtuous person say
about contraception?
A virtuous person would say contraception is right if
both people in the relationship love one another.
However if ones religion is against contraception
then it is wrong because you are being disobedient.
Virtue ethics allows people to make decisions based
upon our virtues that are fully morally correct. This
encourages people to focus on the practical
reasoning and wisdom given by the virtues to know
what we ought to be doing. Furthermore, Virtue
ethics also implies tolerance towards others
approaches to sexual ethics. Whilst considering what
kind of sexual practices would make a person more
virtuous.