ABSTRACT

The liberal moral orthodoxy is constituted by the claims that non-consensual sex is impermissible and consensual sex is permissible. The moral magic of consent is explained and the particular nature of sexual consent distinguished. The performative, attitudinal and mixed answers to the question of what consent is are explored. That question is distinguished from the matter of how someone might on any particular occasion actually consent; and, further, from that of what it is reasonable for anyone to believe is sexual consent. The defeating conditions of sexual consent are considered, and, in particular, whether deception is sufficient to vitiate consent such that the resultant sex is very wrong. The wrong of rape is discussed, and two problem cases for the view that consensual sex is always permissible – prostitution and adult incest – are considered.