Is passion morally right or wrong if it goes against the law?

        Match them with the correct theory/philosopher to its description to test your knowledge of philosophical terms and theories. It may help to keep track on a piece of paper. The answer key is at the bottom.

1. Right and Wrong depends on social customs.            
Therefore, if society says that certain expressions                           
and forms of passion are morally wrong, then in
that particular society, it is. To rebel against the
society that you live in is morally wrong.
("Philosophy Questions & Theories" 257)

2. It is morally acceptable to do anything that fulfills                                    
the will of God, regardless of the laws in place.
Consequences are not of importance.

3. Anything that coincides with human nature is                                   
morally acceptable, because it is what God
intended, and is what we are naturally attracted
to do. However, to fulfill passionate desires that
knowingly hurt another or oneself is to commit
an evil act.

4. It is only acceptable to partake in passionate actions                        
if the individual doing them would will those actions                          
to become a universal law. One cannot make
exceptions for themselves. I.e. Adultery is not
acceptable for everyone because it would disintegrate
the meaning of marriage, so it is not acceptable
for the individual.

5. One should seek to discover their deeper self,                                   
to reach higher intellectual understanding, and                                      
to seek enlightenment. Sexual passion is an
unnecessary earthly pleasure that merely distracts
that journey.

6. Sexual passion that goes against the law is                                        
morally acceptable if it is done privately and                                           
will offend no one, both partners consent to it,
and it does not harm anyone. ( "Ethics" 77-78 ) 

7. All actions and events are already determined                                   
by the nonstatistical laws of nature. Therefore,
sexual passion experienced has been predetermined,
and cannot be considered morally wrong.
("Introduction to Philosophy" 805)

Match the theories and/or philosophers to the correct description above.

 Natural Law ethics          The Divine Command theory         

Protagoras, Hume, and Relativism

Immanuel Kant's Categorical Imperative         

Buddhism          Utilitarianism           Determinism

                                                                    Answer Key

________________________________________________________________________________

1. Right and Wrong depends on social customs.                                     
Therefore, if society says that certain expressions                                
and forms of passion are morally wrong, then in
that particular society, it is. To rebel against the
society that you live in is morally wrong.
("Philosophy Questions & Theories" 257)

Protagoras, Hume, and Relativism

2. It is morally acceptable to do anything fulfills                                    
the will of God, regardless of the laws in place.
Consequences are not of importance.

The Divine Command theory

3. Anything that coincides with human nature is                                   
morally acceptable, because it is what God
intended, and is what we are naturally attracted
to do. However, to fulfill passionate desires that
knowingly hurt another or oneself is to commit
an evil act.

Natural Law ethics

4. It is only acceptable to partake in passionate actions                       
if the individual doing them would will those actions                              
to become a universal law. One cannot make
exceptions for themselves. I.e. Adultery is not
acceptable for everyone because it would disintegrate
the meaning of marriage, so it is not acceptable
for the individual. 

Immanuel Kant's Categorical Imperative

5. One should seek to discover their deeper self,                                   
to reach higher intellectual understanding, and
to seek enlightenment. Sexual passion is an
unnecessary earthly pleasure that merely distracts
that journey.

Buddhism

6. Sexual passion that goes against the law is                                        
morally acceptable if it is done privately and
will offend no one, both partners consent to it,
and it does not harm anyone. ( "Ethics" 77-78 )

Utilitarianism

7. All actions and events are already determined                                   
by the nonstatistical laws of nature. Therefore,
sexual passion experienced has been predetermined,
and cannot be considered morally wrong.
("Introduction to philosophy" 805)

Determinism

________________________________________________________________________________

                              Some Further Thoughts

* When it comes to morality and the law, we must consider these three questions:

1.) Is the law necessary for society's well-being?
2.) Is there a balance between the conflicting needs of individuals and society?
3.) What values is the law based upon? Are they values that the majority of the individuals within that society hold? (Thompson, 119)

* I cannot believe that Protagoras and Hume are correct. If this theory applied universally to humanity, then we would not have as many liberties as we do today. For example, it used to be considered morally acceptable to enslave blacks. To propose any different, according to this idea, would be morally wrong. However, it is widely accepted today (of course, not by all) that it is morally wrong to enslave human beings, and that all humans are equal. If this theory applied to all of humanity, then the blacks may still have been in slavery today.