Some Observations On Sexual Ethics

By R. H. CROWTHER

Man's sexual instincts are set in such a wide scale of emotional affinities. esthetic preferences, and intellectual and philosophical estimates of life, that problems of sexual ethics are far from being as simple as they might appear.

The most primitive sexual ethic, worthy of the name, is one which places sexual behavior between persons on the basis of mutual consent. This element, by itself, eliminates the factor of physical violence. It does not, however, eliminate factors of public disorder, undue mental suasion, deception, refined cruelties of an intellectual order, care of progeny (in the case of heterosexual relationships). or age differentials among the persons involved. Neither does it involve any of the elements of personal self-discipline by which intelligent persons try to relate (or even subordinate) the sexual instincts to a much wider and more social sphere of interests. It is with these latter problems, problems of a social and psychological nature, that sexual ethics in modern society is chiefly concerned.

Modern language distinguishes between many nuances of feeling and behavior, many or all of which may, at times, involve sexuality. We speak forthrightly, for example, of sex when we wish to refer directly to the activity of the reproductive organs. But when we come to terms such as affection, romance. infatuation, love, etc., we bring in a much wider range of experience; and the very fact that such words exist in our language demonstrates that our minds are capable of distinguishing the bare notion of sex from the many emotional and intellectual factors with which sex is so often associated.

Among homosexuals, there is perhaps less standardization (and more confusion) of thought along these lines, than among heterosexuals. As a whole. society still believes, fortunately, in a tradition of romance in which heterosexual morality has its natural setting. This tradition of romance is inseparably bound up with ideals of male and female-with the protectiveness of the male (or female), the purity of the female (or male), the obligations of fatherhood and motherhood, the advantages of conjugal fidelity in promoting the peace and security of the family unit. We tend to scoff, nowadays. at such ideals, but it is difficult to imagine anything but complete social collapse without them, and it is from such a web of ideal conditions and relationships that modern standards of heterosexual behavior are largely determined.

With the increasing complexity of modern life, problems of ethics become increasingly involved, and more difficult to solve in practical ways. Among primitive cultures, where the responsibilities of individuals are basic and few, ethical problems are correspondingly simple, and of ready solution. But in 20th Century America, for example, a person of even average education and talent. and of only moderate interests in social and cultural productivity, finds himself

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