When critically discussing whether or not an act such as .
            
adultery is wrong, one must first establish the definition of adultery, and then on what .
            
basis it is considered to be wrong.  In defining adultery, I will be providing the commonly .
            
accepted standard conceptual framework in  contemporary America.  This will be the basis .
            
from which I judge acts not in agreement with this framework, to be either acceptable or .
            
wrong.  In discussing an issue such as adultery, it is important to note that numerous .
            
possibilities and variations of this are possible.  I would like to explore these variables; and .
            
in applying them in different contexts will enable us to better judge them to be either .
            
morally right or wrong.  .
            
		The historical background for our present day definition of .
            
adultery is provided by the church and state.  For both moral and social reasons has the .
            
doctrine of monogamous, marital sex been established.  For the purpose of assuring .
            
paternity, the need for willing estates to heirs of legitimate lineage, maintaining sexual .
            
health, and providing a family unit for child rearing, has the institution of marriage been .
            
created.  That being the case, one might consider adultery to be wrong for the fact that it .
            
compromises these outcomes.  One must consider although, if adultery is immoral for .
            
other reasons and two, if acts other than those traditionally viewed as adultery but which .
            
endanger the aforementioned outcomes are immoral.  Thus wrong will be considered .
            
immoral, or something which breaches the benefits related to the institution of marriage.
            
		In most simply defining adultery, I shall say that it is any .
            
extramarital sexual act.  Right away the question arises however, whether or not .
            
numerous other similar acts also qualify as adultery.  Partners that are engaged but not yet .
            
married, married partners in an open marriage, married partners having sexual thoughts .
            
but not acts with other people are just a few examples which must either be determined .