It depends on the version of Arthur you read.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Igraine
It is difficult to accept any of the first three answers: If Lust were there, I could buy that. But the versions of the stories varies.
Uther Pendragons willingness to give his son Arthur to Merlin in exchange for spending just one night with Igraine reflects the idea of
courtly love
chivalry
"contemptu mundi"
NoNE OF THE ABOVE
This confuses me, I don't understand why he gave his child up, I don't think it would fall under chivalry because that's the nights moral code, the mundi is contempt for the world. I was thinking none of the above but I am not sure.
2 answers
I would go with none of the above on that particular question. Uther was in "lust".
1 answer