Immorality of Pornography
Ken Stoye
Ethics 2050 - 014
April 19, 2005
The Immorality of Pornography The argument over the morality of pornography can take shape in many different ways. In order to take a stance, it's important to identify what exactly is included in the definition of pornography. In this paper, pornography will be defined as sexually explicit materials in which the acts depicted degrade or subordinate women. The degradation and subordination can occur through various different acts, but in an attempt to curtail the wordiness of the definition, those words are used to include any act that misrepresents or defames women. Erotica on the other hand, which is not part of the moral argument of pornography, is sexually explicit material that portrays the man and woman as more or less equals. It is with this distinction in mind, with regard to the philosophies of care ethics, utilitarianism, and deontology, that pornography is in fact wholly immoral. Care ethics provide us with a good foundation for the belief that pornography is immoral. Care ethics is a branch of feminine ethics that defend, elucidate, and develop an attitude of care toward others based on the approach that women tend to have toward morally problematic situations. Followers of this idea do not argue that pornography is immoral due to its offensive nature. Instead, pornography is immoral because it is a type of sexual discrimination. Pornography subordinates women. As Catherine MacKinnon states, "Pornography isn't just a harmless fantasy, it is a practice that institutionalizes the sexuality of male supremacy" (MacKinnon 452). The women portrayed in pornography aren't treated as equals, they are objectified and there to be used or violated. It is with this understanding that one can interpret that pornography doesn't necessarily create a feeling of pleasure for the viewer, but instead a feeling of power. To illustrate the immorality of the acceptance of the inequality that appears in pornography,
Ethics 2050 - 014
April 19, 2005
The Immorality of Pornography The argument over the morality of pornography can take shape in many different ways. In order to take a stance, it's important to identify what exactly is included in the definition of pornography. In this paper, pornography will be defined as sexually explicit materials in which the acts depicted degrade or subordinate women. The degradation and subordination can occur through various different acts, but in an attempt to curtail the wordiness of the definition, those words are used to include any act that misrepresents or defames women. Erotica on the other hand, which is not part of the moral argument of pornography, is sexually explicit material that portrays the man and woman as more or less equals. It is with this distinction in mind, with regard to the philosophies of care ethics, utilitarianism, and deontology, that pornography is in fact wholly immoral. Care ethics provide us with a good foundation for the belief that pornography is immoral. Care ethics is a branch of feminine ethics that defend, elucidate, and develop an attitude of care toward others based on the approach that women tend to have toward morally problematic situations. Followers of this idea do not argue that pornography is immoral due to its offensive nature. Instead, pornography is immoral because it is a type of sexual discrimination. Pornography subordinates women. As Catherine MacKinnon states, "Pornography isn't just a harmless fantasy, it is a practice that institutionalizes the sexuality of male supremacy" (MacKinnon 452). The women portrayed in pornography aren't treated as equals, they are objectified and there to be used or violated. It is with this understanding that one can interpret that pornography doesn't necessarily create a feeling of pleasure for the viewer, but instead a feeling of power. To illustrate the immorality of the acceptance of the inequality that appears in pornography,
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