Sexual Ethics from a Virtue Ethics Perspective

1
Sexual Ethics from a Virtue Ethics Perspective

• Applied to issues of
• Adultery sex outside Marriage.
• Polygamy.
• Contraception.
• Homosexuality.

2
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.

3
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.

4
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.

5
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.

6
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.

7
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.