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Morality of Sex Essay

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One of the greatest issues that people struggle with is the morality of sex in different situations. Perhaps we worry about it so much because it is such an intimate and significant event. From a purely biological standpoint, sexual intercourse is the means for what might be considered the most important biological function of humans – reproduction, the continuation of our species. But, as beings concerned with not only the biological aspects of life but also with morality, we must ask the question: when is it morally appropriate to engage in sex? Let us throw religion to the wind, for the time being. Obviously, different religions (and even different sects of a single religion) have wildly varying opinions on when, where, and how sex is …show more content…

Therefore, let us investigate several logical reasons that suggest sex may be appropriate outside of marriage for a moral human being (Winner 29). Firstly, what is marriage? The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines traditional marriage as, “the state of being united to a person of the opposite sex as husband or wife in a consensual and contractual relationship recognized by law.” It seems that the main difference between a marital relationship and any other (boyfriend/girlfriend) relationship is the addition of a contract under the law. Everything else is the same – a united state where the two persons have defined roles; where the relationship has been consensually agreed upon. If the law is the only thing separating marriage from any other relationship, it follows that the law should be the deciding factor as to whether sex should be specifically reserved for marriage – and the law has nothing to say on that matter. Sex outside of marriage is completely legal. Of course, what is legal is not necessarily what is moral, but it gives us a good starting point (Merriam-Webster 1). But perhaps marriage is different in other ways. Some may say that marriage is unlike another relationship because it is much longer lasting. Married couples are devoted to each other for “as long as they both shall

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