Natural Law and Sexual Ethics

1. Natural Law and Sexual Ethics

2. Natural LAW • Aquinas • The purpose of humanity is to achieve moral perfection (created ‘in the image of God’ so must become like him) • We can do this by following the moral laws created in nature (built into humanity)

3. Natural LAW • Based on the 5 primary precepts: • The preservation of life • Reproduction (only purpose of sex) • The nurture and education of the young (to learn) • Living peacefully in society • To worship God • From these secondary precepts can be derived through use of reason

4. Natural LAW • We must be aware of the difference between APPARENT + REAL GOODS • Apparent Goods – Something which seems to be the right thing to do but does not fit the ideal of perfection. • Real Goods – The right thing to do that does fit the human ideal

5. Marriage • Aquinas' view on marriage and sexuality is that it has two main purposes: (1) Reproduction, and (2) the production of a family unit that together form a strong bond (through principle 1) and a unit in society (Summa contra Gentiles) • ‘an inseparable union of souls, by which husband and wife are pledged by a bond of mutual affection that cannot be sundered. And the end of matrimony is the begetting and upbringing of children: the first of which is attained by conjugal intercourse; the second by the other duties of husband and wife, by which they help one another in rearing their offspring.’ • a kind of "spiritual joining together" and it is also a "material joining together"

6. Fornication • Fornication: sex before marriage • Aquinas believed that sex should take place only within marriage. • Although it could be considered a natural act it is morally wrong: ‘conflict with right reason may arrive from the nature of the act with respect to the other party.’ (Summa Theologiae) • Sexual relationships before marriage (generally between adolescents) are rarely open to the possibility of procreation. • Apparent good: sexual relationship (e.g. it was right because we were in love) .vs. real good: abstinence until marriage

7. Adultery • Adultery: sex outside marriage • Aquinas believed that sex should take place only within marriage. • Adultery is morally wrong even if it could be considered a natural act: ‘conflict with right reason may arrive from the nature of the act with respect to the other party.’ (Summa Theologiae) • Could arguably be a violation of primary precept: live peacefully in society (i.e. adultery is a common cause of divorce which is very damaging to communities and has been shown to have a detrimental effect on society as a whole). • Could also violate primary precept ‘nurture and educate the young’ • It is condemned in the Bible (Exodus: 10 commandments) which is a revelation of God’s law to humanity. • Apparent good: sexual relationship (e.g. it was right because we were in love) .vs. real good: fidelity within marriage

8. Polygamy • Polygamy: the practice of having more than one spouse at any one time • Aquinas (as a Christian) would have considered polygamy the equivalent to adultery (same objections) • He also believed it devalued the relationship of marriage: • ‘If then while the wife has one husband only, the husband has more than one wife; there will not be a friendship of equality on both sides, friendship consisting in a certain equality. There will not be the friendship of a free man with a free woman, but a sort of friendship of a slave with her master.’ • To have a multiplicity of wives or husbands means that the opposite party becomes a slave to the other.

9. Contraception • Contraception: the use of artificial means to prevent the conception of children through intercourse. • Condemned because it prevents procreation which Aquinas believed to be the only purpose of sex (violation of the primary precept: reproduce) • A sexual relationship that is not open to the possibility of conception is immoral (goes against the natural design). • ABORTION (most objectionable) also violates precept of the preservation of life (terminates human life at the foetal stage).

10. Homosexuality • Aquinas condemned homosexuality because: • Intercourse is the physical union of a man and a woman in accordance with God’s design - in fulfilment of the human ideal (Creation) • It cannot lead to the procreation of children: ‘In so far as generation is blocked, we have an unnatural vice. For example, acts with a person of the same sex.’ (Summa Theologiae) • It is condemned in the Bible (Leviticus 18:22, Romans 1:27) which is a revelation of God’s law to humanity • Apparent good: sexual relationship (e.g. it was right because we were in love) .vs. real good: abstinence to prevent violation of God’s natural design

11. Weaknesses • Is procreation the only purpose of sex? (isn’t it also an expression of love and trust in someone close to you – becoming ‘one flesh’?) (If a married couple are infertile should their sexual relationship be condemned?) • Old fashioned – does not recognise changes in social attitudes (e.g. towards homosexuality) • Polygamy – could be argued that this practice fulfils all the primary precepts so why is it wrong? (just because it isn’t a Christian practice?) • Fornication – nowadays many unmarried couples have children and nurture. Why is this immoral? (same as marriage isn’t it?) • Homosexuality – recognised as a natural state (not an illness). Could it not be part of God’s design?