Locke would suggest that sexual mores
are the product of learning through
experience, as witnessed by the fact that
they can vary by culture. Although child
molestation is frowned on nearly
universally, the age of consent can vary
greatly. In some cultures, girls who have
just begun puberty are married off to men
twice their age or more while in the U.S.
it's legally rape for an adult man to have
sex with a minor

The Greeks celebrated the love between
an adolescent boy and an older man,
while today the Catholic Church faces
millions in lawsuits because of priests
engaging in this sort of activity with boys
in their parish. Locke might suggest that
the guilt feelings of the victim could be
created by the usual oaths of secrecy
exacted by the molesters or the child
noticing that they are different in that none
of their friends seem to be having such
experiences.

This being said, Locke also believes in
objective morality. He just believes that it
is learned through instruction by good
parents and teachers, not innate.

Prof. Borrowdale
borrowdalej@lanecc.edu
541-463-5434