Category: RE

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Sexual Ethics Revision

2003 Q 4 (a) What is meant by conscience [4]

(b) Examine one moral dilemma associated with sexual ethics [10]

(c) With reference to the dilemma comment on the view that conscience allows people too much freedom. [6]

 

Conscience

  • That which guides us into right behaviour
  • Intuitionism – intuitive – we are born with it (nature) (some would also say God-given)
  • Empiricism –it is imposed upon us from outside (nurture) the result of social conditioning.
  • Aquinas ‘the dictate of reason’ i.e. Conscience tells us how to act but it is based on reason.
  • Aquinas: Greek synderesis: our chief desire should be to work for the highest good ‘summum bonum’, to do so gives us pleasure and glorifies God.
  • Butler: it is the steering wheel not the engine

 

One moral dilemma – sex outside of marriage e.g. adultery or just sex before marriage

  • Acc to RC sex for one purpose: reproduction / must therefore be within marriage / based upon OT teaching (e.g’s) and Aquinas’ Natural Law Theory which is…
  • All very well but out of date, no longer patriarchal, submissive women society, double standards, equal rights, now sex is seen as loving expression rather than biological imperative, church view too legalistic
  • 1978 C of E
  • Jack Dominion

 

Conscience and too much freedom

  • The criticism, here, is probably from those who view Western society and culture as too permissive and hedonistic.
  • Those living under the Authoritarian conscience would disagree since their desire is to please every one and usually themselves last!
  • People who commit adultery are being selfish and immoral (but sex outside of marriage where neither partner is married is a matter for them)
  • The humanistic view grants freedom but puts personal integrity first; this gives contentment through doing the right thing.
  • The libertarian view who separate sex from marriage, would say that so long as no one is harmed then it’s okay but how can we possibly know what harm may arise, and how can adultery not harm someone?
  • Conscience will always suggest when an action is wrong or undesirable and acting on our conscience gives greater happiness than ignoring it.
  • But we do have free-will the freedom to choose, we aren’t pre-programmed and our freedom must not impinge on anyone else’s
  • Freedom assumes we do have it completely, but do we? If we are so socially conditioned and pressured to do the right thing, is this freedom? (see Skinner and Pavlov)
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Conscience and Freedom

2001 Q 5 (a) What are the characteristics of conscience? [14]

(b) Comment on the claim that conscience allows people the freedom to behave as they wish. [6]

 

Characteristics of conscience

  • Inner part of self where concepts of right and wrong are developed.
  • Or the way we judge our moral actions.
  • Joseph Butler: ‘principle of reflection by which [we] distinguish between and disapprove of [our] actions.’
  • The Christian view is of course that conscience comes from God and is an inner law ‘which he [man] has not laid upon himself but must obey.’ 2nd Vatican Council.
  • Kant described it as ‘ought’, a moral imperative.
  • Christians regard it as universal whether a person believes in god or not; it is imperfect as a result of the fall; can be redeemed by Christ and made fit for heaven.
  • It stimulates feelings of guilt and shame.
  • It encourages us to do the right thing because we usually feel better as a result.
  • Helps us work towards the summum bonum but only truly possible if God exists. Kant.

 

Conscience and Freedom to behave as we like.

  • Essentially we have free-will, the freedom to choose and that includes the ability to make the wrong choices but conscience is that bit of us that judges our actions and is disappointed with us when we fail.
  • Depends on the kind of conscience you’ve got!
  • Kant would say that ‘as they wish’ is the way that God wants us to behave and doing so is the only way we can get real pleasure.
  • The humanistic conscience would argue that since the conscience is the real us and the only way to achieve our full potential is to put into practice moral examples we have learned and applying our personal integrity gives true contentment.
  • Few people have true freedom to behave as they wish, there are always people to be pleased, authorities to exert pressure or apply sanctions.
  • Pavlov discovered a series of psychological determinants which govern our behaviour and our choices.
  • Skinner discovered that there are positive and negative reinforcers that also affect us so we are never really free.