display all the ideas for this combination of texts
3 ideas
| 23368 | Perhaps we should persuade culprits that their punishment is just? [Epictetus] |
| Full Idea: The governor Agrippinus would try to persuade those whom he sentenced that it was proper for them to be sentenced, …just as the physician persuades a patient to accept their treatment. | |
| From: Epictetus (The Handbook [Encheiridion] [c.58], 22) | |
| A reaction: This resembles the Contractualism of T.H. Scanlon (that actions are good if you can justify them to those involved). It may be possible to persuade people by the use of sophistry and lies. Nevertheless, a fairly civilise proposal. |
| 20890 | Why do sexual relationships need permanence, if other relationships don't? [Punzo] |
| Full Idea: What is the reason for demanding permanence in the relationship of sexual partners when we do not see such permanence as being importance to other human relationships? | |
| From: Vincent C. Punzo (Morality and Human Sexuality [1969], p.220) | |
| A reaction: The distinction may not be that simple. 'Loyalty' must certainly be mentioned. Friends can legitimately drift apart, but to desert a close friend at a time of great need might be as great a crime as adultery. When is loyalty particularly needed? |
| 20891 | Does engaging in sexual intercourse really need no more thought than playing tennis? [Punzo] |
| Full Idea: It seems strange for a man and a woman to give no more thought to the question of whether they should engage in sexual intercourse than to the question of whether they shoud play tennis. | |
| From: Vincent C. Punzo (Morality and Human Sexuality [1969], p.221) | |
| A reaction: This strikes me as a reasonable point, but times have moved on since 1969, and for plenty of people nowadays playing tennis is a bigger issue than having sex, because of the time, equipment and effort involved. |