Contraception & Unprotected Sex

Contraception & Unprotected Sex

1. Virtue Ethics

   • If someone knows they wouldn't make a good parent, then they have the obligation to avoid becoming a parent as that is the virtuous thing to do, even if this means use of contraception
   • Michael Slote - a virtue is a kind of balanced caring between those who are close to us and people in general → use of contraception expresses care as it prevents unwanted pregnancy and/or STDs; unprotected sex wouldn't be the virtuous thing to do

2. Free will & Determinism

   • Determinism - we do not have free will in determining whether or not we will get STDs or unwanted pregnancies → use of contraception will not change this
   • Free will - we determine whether we become pregnant or get STDs → use of contraception would be the most moral thing to do

3. Natural Law

   • Contraception is unnatural - the natural consequence of sex is conceiving a child; it is wrong to interfere with this → contraception is immoral; unprotected sex is moral
   • Contraception goes against the primary precepts - preservation of life and reproduction → contraception is immoral and unprotected sex is moral

4. Conscience

   • Aquinas' synderesis rule - use of contraception → doing good and avoiding evil
   • Newman - conscience detects the truth coming from God → listen to the voice of God to know whether to use contraception or not

5. Situation Ethics

   • Positivism - use of contraception portrays love → prevents unwanted pregnancies and transmission of STDs
   • Personalism - use of contraceptions shows love for the person → considering their health and preferences regardless of laws

6. Religious Attitudes

   • Contraception is a form of abortion - prevents the development of a fertilised egg, which is seen as murder → contraception is wrong; favour unprotected sex
   • Protestant churches - contraception is allowed as long as it doesn't encourage promiscuous sexual activity → preferably within marriage
   • Roman Catholic church - only allows for 'natural' forms of contraception i.e. withdrawal, rhythm method; using contraception is 'intrinsically evil' → favours unprotected sex only within marriage

7. Utilitarianism

   • Bentham - use of contraception allows for the maximisation of pleasure while also avoiding pain that can potentially be caused by unprotected sex e.g. STD's and unwanted pregnancy → contraception is moral
   • Contraception prevents potential human beings being conceived - according to Hare, if these are the preferences of the individual → use of contraception is moral compared to unprotected sex which would go against the preferences

8. Kantian Ethics

   • It is an individual's duty to use contraception as this is the right thing to do
   • Hypothetical imperative - in order to not get pregnant or get STDs, you must use contraception
   • 1st maxim - use of contraception couldn't be universalised → many people, even the most influential, would potentially cease to exist; unprotected sex couldn't be universalised → a lot more unwanted pregnancies and STDs - strain on medical health and adoption agencies