Sexual immorality is prevalent in present and modern society. Marriage infidelity, violence in relationships, homosexuality, sexual harassment, imbalances and inactivity in partnerships, abortions, viewing pornographic films, same-sex marriage, rapes, prostitution, and child molestation have all been prevalent in society. Unethical sexual behavior has been a major contributor to the aforementioned sexual immorality, which has had a negative impact on society (Grabowski, 2003). For example, a significant number of families have had separations and divorces. death cases has occurred as result of sexual violence, unwanted and unplanned pregnancies attributed by prostitutions, adultery and rape cases. In regards to the outlined profound effects of the sexual immorality, the society has come up with ways of resolving or rather addressing this problem. To start with, several rules, regulations, laws, and legislations have been put forth in providing stringent and punitive measures to those who engaged in the said act (Arroyo, 2017). On the other hand, the society has established ethical standard s that is supposed to offer a clear guidance to the members of the community. The existence of the ethical theory and principles provide a foundation for making ethical decisions.
The use of Legal means in resolving Sexual Immorality
The legislators of various nations have come up with laws to curb most of the unethical behaviors such as rape, sexual violence, child molestation, sexual harassment, homosexuality, adultery, abortions and same-sex marriage among others. Important to note is that with the regards to legal approach, it is a mandatory for each member of the society to abide by the set laws (Arroyo, 2017). Failure to adhere to the established laws would lead to several years in jail and hefty fines. For instance, in most of the countries, child molestation and rape cases would result in life imprisonment. In doing so, the laws on sexual immorality were to make the public to fear in engaging in the illegal sexual acts.
Advantages of the use of the Legal means
There are advantages in the use of the legal means of resolving the sexual immorality that has affected a myriad of societies. To begin with, the law has set up clear punitive measures such as the number of years in jail and the fines that each sexual immorality act would attract. Through this, citizens are aware of the consequences of their actions. Secondly, by placing heavy punishments on culprits of unethical sexual behavior; this has reduced the involvement in the illegal act (Arroyo, 2017). Additionally, the laws have ensured that those who have been affected by the act of the sexual immorality are provided with either compensation or justice is served by punishing the wrongdoer.
Disadvantages of the use of the Legal means
Despite the advantages in the use of the legal means, it is imperative to note that it has disadvantages. The law is quick at punishing culprits of sexual immorality other than making them understand the negative impact of their actions. Also, it uses the approach of creating fear for people to shy away from the discussed illegal behaviors. As result of this wrong strategy, the public does not understand the primary need as to why they should not engage in acts of sexual immorality (Fisk, 2016).
The use of Ethical Theories and Principles in resolving sexual immorality
Ethics or morality was established with the fundamental role of guiding the members of the society to conduct themselves acceptably. This means that citizens are encouraged to behave in ways that would not harm other members of the society, and at the same time they are sensitized on the how the consequences of their behavior would negatively affect other members of the society. The ethical theory such as the utilitarianism plays a critical role in the sense that it makes the society to view the consequence of their act. This means if the act has a negative impact they are advised to avoid such acts. Also, virtue ethics aims at allowing individuals to make a correct decision in life by focusing on morals rather than the set rules or laws (Fisk, 2016). Deontology, on the other hand, focuses on the action other than the implications of the action. It, therefore, advises individuals to choose actions that would generate good other than harm. On the same note, the ethical principles of beneficence and justice implore the society to engage in behaviors that are of benefit and are fair and just to other members of the society. A point to note is that the use of the mentioned theories and principles would play a significant role in sensitizing the public not to engage in the act of sexual immorality (Fisk, 2016).
Advantages of the use of Ethical Theories and Principles
The use of the ethical theories and principles are effective in the sense that they inform, sensitize and educate the members of the society to engage in the actions that would generate benefits and to completely avoid acts that would lead to negative consequences. Through this, the public would avoid engaging in the act of the sexual acts because they are fully aware of its consequences and the negative impact that it has on the society (Fisk, 2016).
Disadvantages of the use of the Ethical Theories and Principles
In comparison to the use of the legal approach in addressing the sexual immorality, the ethical approach is devoid of a stringent punishing mechanism for wrongdoers (Fisk, 2016). For instance, those who failed to adhere to the set ethical standards and engage in acts of sexual immorality would only be condemned by the society but not would face punitive measures.
My Choice
Considering the two alternatives, I would choose the use of the ethical theories and principles in resolving the immoral sexual behaviors. Important to note is that the best ways to address the sexual immorality is to educate, sensitize and make the public to understand and evaluate the consequences of their conduct. A society that has fully embraced the ethical theories and principles would not engage in immoral acts even if there were no existence of the legal laws. This means that the ethical values have an impact of transforming the behaviors of individuals without using coercion. Instead, it focuses on opening the eyes of the public to analyze the consequences of their actions and avoid acts that would lead to harm to others (Fisk, 2016). As an active supporter of virtue ethics, I believe that by individuals focusing on the morals in making ethical decisions they do not need another set of laws to guide them. The legal approach is not effective in the sense that it uses force to compel a citizen to behave morally other than making them see a need for conducting themselves in morally accepted manner.
References
Fisk, M. (2016). Ethics and Social Survival. Routledge.
Grabowski, J. S. (2003). Sex and Virtue: An Introduction to Sexual Ethics (Catholic Moral Thought, Volume 2). CUA Press.
Arroyo, C. (2017). Kant's Ethics and the Same-Sex Marriage Debate-An Introduction. Springer.
