Verified Document

Using Ethical Theories And Perspective To Examine Pornography Essay

Ethical Theories and Perspectives on Pornography Pornography is one of the issues that have become increasingly controversial in the recent past because it borders between sensibility and freedom of speech or expression. While pornography is becoming more and more accepted in the modern society, it is characterized by numerous controversies because of use of varying political, religious, economic, and legal perspectives. The controversies surrounding pornography originate from the fact that it is characterized by obscenity, which generates several moral questions. The two ethical dimensions surrounding pornography include whether it is morally objectionable and whether it should be regulated to consenting adults. In light of the increased debates regarding the morality of pornography, it should be subjected to an ethical analysis based on several ethical theories and perspectives that help in ethical decision making.

Ethical Issues and Breaches of Ethical Behavior in Pornography

As previously mentioned, pornography generates several ethical issues because of concerns regarding the morality of obscenity that characterizes it. Generally, moral decisions or judgment are based on the premise that some claims upon and objectives of actions that we are supposed to pursue. Through theories and perspectives, ethics assist us in critical evaluation of issues based on these claims and objectives. One of the major ethical issues surrounding pornography is whether its obscene materials are morally objectionable or not (Albee, n.d.). The second ethical issue relating to this topic is whether it is moral for the state to regulate access to such material to consenting adults. Third, pornography is surrounded by concerns on whether it is morally right to...

Some of the ethical breaches of behavior surrounding pornography include the probable creation of rape pornography, blackmailing an individual through the use of pornographic material, and racism within the context of producing pornography. These ethical breaches of behavior portray men and women in many negative ways rather than through the use of their anatomical features and ideal situations.
Analysis of Pornography Using Ethical Theories and Perspectives

The determination of whether an issue or behavior is ethical or not requires conducting an ethical scrutiny using theories and perspectives that help in deciding whether a behavior is morally right or wrong. The moral right or wrong of pornography requires using ethical theories and perspectives, which help demonstrate whether it complies with accepted rules of behavior. However, the ethical scrutiny does not provide a one-size-fit-all solution to the controversies on pornography since ethics does not have a simple solution that is acceptable or agreeable by everyone (Mosser, 2013).

One of the ethical theories applicable in analysis of pornography is utilitarianism, which enables people to think about what constitutes ethical or virtuous behavior through doing things that enhances the utility for a great number of people while lessening utility for a small number of people. Based on this ethical theory, people should not be permitted to prevent others from doing something regardless of the harmful aspects of the behavior…

Sources used in this document:
References

Albee, R.D. (n.d.). Ethical Dimensions: Ethical Considerations of Pornography. Retrieved October 25, 2015, from http://www.culinarychronicles.net/classes/Aesthetics/porn/Ethical%20Dimensions%20Ethical%20Considerations%20of%20Pornography.htm

"Ethical Theory and Sexual Ethics." (n.d.). Academy Conferences. Retrieved October 25, 2015, from http://www.johnbaxter.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Sexual-Ethics-Academy.pdf

Mosser, K. (2013). Ethics and social responsibility (2nd Ed.). San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.
Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Ethics and the Internet Use
Words: 3424 Length: 9 Document Type: Term Paper

The problem is that there is no protection against this issue. This is due to the newsfeed in the profile of each user. The argument of the company is that the news feed will ensure the users get to see more content from others. however, this means that there is no certainty of the next item that the user will see on the news feed. This is a serious

Object Relation, Attachment Theories, And
Words: 26278 Length: 90 Document Type: Dissertation

S., experts estimate the genuine number of incidents of abuse and neglect ranges three times higher than reported. (National Child Abuse Statistics, 2006) in light of these critical contemporary concerns for youth, this researcher chose to document the application of Object Relation, Attachment Theories, and Self-Psychology to clinical practice, specifically focusing on a patient who experienced abuse when a child. Consequently, this researcher contends this clinical case study dissertation proves

Developmental Psychology Body Image, Body Health, and
Words: 5850 Length: 20 Document Type: Term Paper

Developmental Psychology Body Image, Body Health, and Pathology Eating disorders and anorexia are becoming more commonplace today, and this is true particularly of young women, although older people and men sometimes also suffer from them. It is important to look at this issue as it relates to body image and how one feels about one's body, but also important to see it in the light of the way that one trust's oneself

White Collar/Corporate Crime White Collar
Words: 7947 Length: 24 Document Type: Research Paper

Labeling white collar crime is a mystery. A shared misapprehension of white collar crime is that, like pornography, it is hard to describe, however a lot of people would recognize it when they understood it. The only thing concerning white collar crime is that no profession is excused or unaffected by it (Geis, 2002). A person just needs to pick up the paper, observe the news, or go on

Africa and the Anthropologist: Isaac Schapera, Felix Bryk, Meg Gehrts-Schomburgk...
Words: 4474 Length: 10 Document Type: Research Paper

As depicted here, the other female actresses in the film -- played by actual Africans -- are naked above the waist. The white actress is not. Indeed, the lower photograph depicts Gehrts-Schomburgk reclining on a leopard skin rug, while a topless native woman fans her with an elaborate fan made of feathers. The ludicrous excess of the colonialist fantasy could not be more evident here. Yet this actress is the

History of Rhetoric and Rhetorical
Words: 5731 Length: 15 Document Type: Term Paper

While these are some of the more famous elements of rhetorical theory, they do not require extensive discussion here for two reasons. Firstly, they are fairly well-known. Secondly, and more importantly, they actually do not provide much insight into the uses of rhetoric, because Aristotle implicitly inserts an ethics into his discussion of rhetoric that precludes it from having as robust an application to the real world as would

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now