Allowed by Right, Forbidden by Ethics
Kant on ‘Unpurposive’ Sex
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21148472 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Martin Brecher (0009-0009-2016-7741, University of Mannheim, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Pages | 1-18 |
| Publication date | 2026-07-06 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Kantian Review (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1369-4154 • E-ISSN: 2044-2394 |
| Publisher | Cambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1017/s136941542610140x |
| OpenAlex | W7167435012 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 31 |
In the Doctrine of Virtue, Kant raises the ‘casuistical’ question of whether sexual intercourse is ethically permissible only if it serves the purpose of procreation, or whether it is also permissible when procreation is not possible, e.g. during pregnancy. It might seem that Kant is assuming a special permissive law that allows ‘unpurposive’ sexual intercourse to prevent greater vices. However, as I shall argue, Kant merely recites an argument that was widespread in the eighteenth century. As a closer analysis of Kant’s argument shows, he in fact regards sexual intercourse incapable of reproduction as ethically impermissible
Argument (complex analysis) · Doctrine · Permissive · Sexual ethics · Sexual intercourse · Historical Studies on Reproduction, Gender, Health, and Societal Changes · Philosophical Ethics and Theory · Religion, Gender, and Enlightenment
Lectures on Ethics
Anthropology, History, and Education
Immanuel Kant's Moral Theory
Pufendorf
Religion and Rational Theology
Kant on Sex and Marriage
Justice and Virtue in Kant's Account of Marriage
Sex, Love, and Gender
Kant on Love
Kant, casuistry and casuistical questions
Kant and Applied Ethics
Orgasm, Generation, and the Politics of Reproductive Biology
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |