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Sexual Ethics
Three determinants of sexual behavior
1. The biological
· Reproduction
· Pleasure
· Hormones
2. The psychological: Reflection and manifestation
3. The social
Sexual standards
1. The legalistic approach
2. Tile permissive approach
Components of sexual standard
1. The acceptance of sexual realities
2. The enhancement of sexuality
3. The integrity of sexuality
4. The relation between sex and marriage
5. The relation of sex to love
Homosexuality
Initial considerations
1. Definition
2. Statistic numbers
3. Whether homosexuality as an illness
4. Reasons of homosexuality
5. Freedom for a homosexual life style
Moral judgements
1. The negative judgments
· Homosexuality is unnatural;
· Homosexuality is repugnant
· Homosexuality is abomination of God's low
· Homosexuality is a threat to the young
2. The positive judgments
· Homosexuality is natural
· Homosexuality is not repugnant
· Homosexuality is a normal life style
Extramarital Sex
Initial considerations
1. Definition
2. The reasons
· Length of separation;
· Debilitating illness
· Lack of interest
· Sexual malfunction
Moral judgments
1. The negative judgments
· Violates the contract
· Injures the partner psychologically
· Remains a mockery to the traditional concept of marriage
2. The positive judgments
· Private life style
· Sexual freedom
· Sexual pleasure in human nature
Abortion
A Historical review
1. The positive attitudes of hellenism
2. The negative attitudes of medieval church
3. The modern arguments
4. Legitimization of abortion
Roe v Wade: Supreme Court's decision
1. The major grounds for the Court's decision
· Social changes
· The concept of privacy
· Human rights
· Determination of the meaning of the term "person" in relation to the abortion controversy
2. Four decisions according to three "trimesters" of pregnant
3. Seven attempts to circumvent the Court's action
Biological background
The development of the human fetus
1. Developmental timetable
Spermatozoon--Zygote--Blastocyst--Embryo--Fetus--Quickening--viabi1ity
2. Miscarriages
3. Forms of abortion
· Spontaneous abortion (anytime)
· Drug such as "morning-after pill"
· Uterine or vacuum aspiration (through week 12)
· Dilation and curettage (through week 12)
· Saline injection (after week 16)
· Hysterotomy (after week 16)
Two status of the fetus
1. The ontological status
It bears directly on the issue of fetal rights and permissible treatment of the fetus
Four questions:
(1) whether the' fetus is an individual organism
(2) whether the fetus is biologically a human being
(3) whether the fetus is psychologically a human being;
(4) whether the fetus is person
The meaning of the expression human life:
(1) the biological
(2) the psychological
The concept of' "personhood"
Three positions on when extreme conservative;
(1) The extreme conservative
(2) The extreme liberal
(3) The moderate
2. The moral status
The basic moral problem of abortion is: Under what condition is abortion morally justifiable?
The negative judgments
· As murder
· Sets a dangerous precedent
· Involves psychological risks for woman
· Ignores the responsibility for woman's sexual activity
The positive judgments
· Dangerous pregnancies;
· Unwanted or deformed unborn
· Some Pregnancies resulted from rape or incest
· Woman's rights over their bodies
Premarital Sex
Initial considerations
1. Definition
2. The reasons
Moral judgements
The negative judgments
· Violates God's law
· Undermines marriage
· Results bastards
· Encourages promiscuity
The positive judgments
· Private matter
· Celibacy as unnatural and unfair
· Sexual compatibility
Pornography
Conceptualization
1. The literal: Obscenity
2. The legal: Four basic characteristics by Supreme Court
3. The religious
4. The psychological
Moral judgements
1. The negative judgements
· Degrades humans
· Separates sexual passion from affection and love
2. The positive judgements
· A useful source of information about human sexuality
· Morally natural
Two conflict arguments on censorship
1. The negative arguments
2. The positive arguments