Category: Extract

In this extract from Roger Scruton’s Book, Sexual Desire (1986) the author argues that Plato has left us with a n unhelpful dualism between the animal and the rational which still infects our discussions of sexual desire. To gain the summits of love, however, Plato argues we need to strip away the erotic and the…

Many philosophers have offered answers to the question of what sex means and how it should be viewed morally. Consider these four models or theories. First the reproductive model asserts that the natural purpose of sex is procreation, as in Thomas Aquinas (1224/25-1274)/ Second, the romantic (or metaphysical model), advanced by nearly everyone from the…

source Partners in relationships should be explicit regarding their expectations and the promises they’re willing to make. As I’ve written before, adultery is whatever partners believe it is, whether that means sexual intercourse, kissing, or texting. People in relationships should not feel bound by anyone else’s expectations of them—each person should feel bound only by…

source I wanted to discuss the ethics involved in sexual morality, specifically adultery and fornication.   The issue is whether it is morally right to engage in sexual relations outside of marriage.  This entails both adultery, which is sex between a married person with someone other than one’s spouse, and fornication, which is sex between unmarried…

Notes on Alan Goldman’s “Plain Sex” Two Lessons about Ethical Thinking (1) Many ethical disagreements hinge upon disagreements about facts, not about moral principles. (2) Being a moral objectivist needn’t mean being morally conservative. Both lessons help limit the appeal of moral relativism. ********************** (1) Many ethical disagreements hinge upon disagreements about facts, not about…

DOCTRINAL PRINCIPLES (Part  II, paragraph numbers as original document) This extract from Humanae Vitae (of the life of humans) the Papl encyclical published by Pope Paul in 1967, reaffirms a traditional, conservative natural law philosophy on sex. It should be stressed that this isn’t the only interpretation of Aquinas’ primary precepts and is not shared…

Adultery and other kinds of act contrary to the good of marriage In this extract from Stanford encyclopaedia the author argues that Aquinas sees sex within marriage as exclusive because it is the key to human and social flourishing (eudaimonia).  The right kind of sex int he right place (marriage) builds an excellent life –…