Greeks and Extra-Marital Sex - Essay Example

Lecturer: Greeks and Extra Marital Sex Introduction Extramarital sex refers to the infringement of a pledge to sexual devotion. It is a situation whereby one partner involves in sexual activities with someone who is not legally conjugal partner. Extramarital sex is a serious betrayal and it can lead to diverse consequences such as emotional suffering, termination of relationship or lawsuit. Extramarital sex affairs differ between men and women from one culture to another. For instance, the expression of sexuality in Greek community is perceived as mutually dependent. Many societies believe that sexual pleasures are only realized in a committed relationship, which is governed by love. In spite of customs, sexual characteristics, age and marital status, a devoted affiliation usually include a sexual devotion. Such commitments are necessary for preserving the promise of love. Hence, violation of the promise of love may lead to legal issues, and it is an unethical act. Thesis: Although, extramarital sex is regarded as morally and legally wrong; it is also discouraged in many societies because it contributes to diverse consequences such as divorce, punishment and even death. The moral question has been a significant issue since history and immorality have never been accepted in the society basing on legal and religious grounds; thus, the thesis is worth plausible. This is because people knew to differentiate right from wrong; thus, extramarital issues have never been accepted. The spirits and God authorized the proper way of action and penalty for going against the law. In other words, morality and religious issues have been virtually identical, but atheistic moral issues appeared in the late age of civilization. Aesthetic dogmatic have always charged the moral actions of human being. However, sexual behaviors whether adultery, infidelity or other immoral acts have never been illegally nor morally accepted in the society. This is because of its results to diverse consequences such as divorce and this may affect children. It also contributes to sexually transmitted infections, and it is regarded as a disgrace in the family. Moreover, extramarital sex is regarded as morally wrong and it is seen as one way of breaking the marriage law. The issue of moral convictions dates back to the historical background especially the ancient time of Christianity and Judaism. The sexual morality has been influenced by varied religious convictions, and the influence was quite often indirect, restrained or concealed (Carmichael123). Therefore, it is significant to cast the cursory glance of some western religion and focus of the biblical teachings about humanity sexual behaviors and moral principles in the society. For instance, the early Greeks had affirmative stance towards sexuality, but this has profoundly changed due to western influences. They viewed sex as basic life vigor, and sexual urges were acknowledged as principally good. They also understood that all their gods virtually directed them to enthusiastic and diverse sex lives. The research carried out revealed that sexual conduct is a highly regulated activity, and it has emerged as a complex web of legal regulation of impressionistic (Chamallas 777). The sex decree functions as a value, and it underlies the vision of proper sexual behaviors. The legal regulations concerning sex arise at different occasions, but in history, sex law was identified the concern of bold belief. The strict laws and discouragement of sex basing on strong moral foundations in the Greece society enabled the society to reduce incidences of STIs and other varied consequences. For instance, the empirical study carried out indicated that Greece continues to be the remaining nation among the European countries with the least rate of STIs such as Aids. This is because cases of immoral behaviors have been highly discouraged since history up to the present. The inherent philosophical considerations and the rationality are the issue of consideration in the extra-marital sex subject. Many scholars argue that the union of two partners is meant for reproductive organs meaning that the husband and wife are united biologically (Carmichael93). Reproduction is core function of union; thus to achieve that function the spouses should definitely maintain their union holy. Therefore, their union is a sexual act of reproductive kind even though they are not capable of producing the generation in this stance; they can actualize and allow them experience the real common good, which is their marriage. The bodily union is what brings to them joy; thus keeping their union holy is significant. Although, the ancient philosophers do not explain much about sterile marriages, they appear to emphasize on conjugal sexual act; thus, anyone going against the marriage law may face varied consequences. Therefore, this account seeks to make moral judgments to agree with the natural law, which seems to be a difficult issue in the contemporary society. The French philosopher, Foucault Michael argues that the Greeks understood extramarital sex in a morally manner. Foucault evaluates the historical perspective of revealing the truth about sex and analyses the issue of culture in sex practices (Foucault 58). He further elaborates the truth about Greece and the way sex was connected with the pedagogy from and knowledge transmission form an individual to another. For instance, young boys and girls were provided sex education by their uncles and au ties respectively. This issue was to create sex awareness and enable them understand the role of sex and the significant of keeping marriage a holy union. Foucault focused on discipline; punishment and confession were among the significant aspects in the traditional society. The religious view focused on the divine nature and manifestation of God ‘will; thus issue of unethical behaviors were seen as morally wrong (Foucault 193). The ancient Greek’s understanding of extramarital sex is not different from the modern cultural situation. The text of sexuality in Greek most notably from the Foucault’s viewpoint remarkably indicates the complicated nature of the relationship. Foucault in the text of “Scientia sexualis,” he attempts to reveal the truth about sex especially to the westerners (Foucault 58). This text has been used for political purpose with an aim of supporting state racism. Therefore, he focuses the issue of relationship as a conflicting issue between the Roman Catholicism and the authoritarian figure. He further proceed to analyze the way scientist began to inspect the human psychological factors and sexual factors. Thomas Aquinas also argued about human resilience; thus, he provided the position on moral theory and flourishing. Aquinas asserts that human flouring serves as the foundations and a guide towards virtue theory and moral theology (Craig 4). His perceptive about human being flourishing is the way towards understanding the ethical virtue approach specifically the ethical anthropology. Aquinas’ main focus was on human inclinations and emotions; thus, the resilience perspective brings the question of the way this perspective benefits a virtue based theory. Aquinas focused on the natural virtues and his theoretical efforts offered a fitting dialogue for psychosocial sciences even though it surpasses the ethical aptitude (Craig 5). Furthermore, Aquinas focused the issue of natural law when attempting to explain the sexual ethics. He focused on family life and uniting with God in order to fulfill the expectation of God’ will (Carmichael 34). The natural focuses on biblical teaching that sex is only meant for siring children and for pleasure or enjoyment for married couples only. This law discourages infidelity, homosexuality or any other fornication; thus, marriage should be kept holy. The societies have moral principles and values that regulate or prohibit sexual behaviors though this varies from one society to another. The moral principles are connected with the structure of the society and strongest moral values are complex in the patriarchal communities. The traditional believes behind these moral principals were to discourage sexual moral behaviors in order to prevent cases of divorce and unwanted children in the society. Therefore, they laid strict sexual morals in order to prevent the spread of STIs and other consequences. Historically, the issues of sexuality were fostered in the Enlightenment Age whereby the ancient philosophers examined the sexuality issue and provided justifiable moral principles (Foucault 96). For instance, the Greek society emphasized heavily on moral principles with an aim of discouraging homosexuality behaviors. Other philosophers such as Marx and Kant came up with different theories that explain the issue of sex morally. For instance, the utilitarian approaches implemented by Kant attempts to explain the virtue or ethical issues about sex morality. Therefore, Kant came up with a moral philosophy that attempt to focus marriage from a moral perspective. The moral law requires people to exercise God’s will and observe the moral principles that govern their behaviors. However, the Kantian ethics totally disagrees with the emotional perspective of morality explained in the natural law of Aquinas. It views the natural law as being harsh when it comes to making ethical decisions. Kant attempts to show distinctive features of marriage and elucidates them through various guiding principles. His views are in contrast with that of Stuart Mill who argued that women should be subordinated of their husbands and cases of infidelity are condemned in the society. Karl Marx also linked patriarchy with capitalism and its understanding about marriage is taken as ownership, an idea which underpins the capitalist order. Marriage is viewed as a legal contract; thus, cases of extramarital affairs are discouraged because they contribute to the lawsuit in court. It is similar to signing a business contract, which when one violates it, is subjected to the law case. Therefore, Marx also understands that marriage is a promise and it similar to property ownership in the capitalist society; thus, case of extramarital sex issues is discouraged in the society. Marx came up with feminist theory that attempts to criticize the issue of gender inequality in the society. His view on this theory is linked with private ownership and the way it can contribute to economic inequality. He emphasized the issue of prostitution in the communist states and his views towards sexuality differ a bit from that of Foucault. Conclusion Extramarital sex is regarded as morally and legally wrong; it is also discouraged in many societies. This is because it contributes to diverse consequences such as divorce, punishment and even death. Therefore, the moral question has been a significant issue since history and immorality have never been accepted in the society basing on legal and religious grounds. Extramarital sex is morally wrong and it is seen as one way of breaking the marriage law. The French philosopher, Foucault Michael argues that the Greeks understood extramarital sex in a morally manner. The ancient Greek’s understanding of extramarital sex is not different from the modern cultural situation. Many philosophers such as Aquinas, Kant and Marx also came up with varied views regarding the sexuality issues. Thus, they provided moral principles that reveal the way extramarital sex is discouraged in the society since it is one way of breaking the marriage law. Works Cited Carmichael, Calum M. Sex and Religion in the Bible. New Haven [Conn.: Yale University Press, 2010. Print. Chamallas, Martha. "Consent, Equality, And The Legal Control Of Sexual Conduct." University Of Southern California 61. (2000): 777. Foucault, Michel. The History of Sexuality: Volume 1, An Introduction. New York: Vintage, 1990. Print. Titus, Craig S. Resilience and Christian Virtues: What the Psychosocial Sciences Offer for the Renewal of Thomas Aquinas' Moral Theology of Fortitude and Its Related Virtues. , 2002. Print. Read More