Module 10 - Free Speech Issues

Discuss one of the issues taken up in this module from the point of view of the preliminary and finalist theories discussed in Modules 3 and 4. Note that you must discuss the issue you choose from six perspectives (three preliminary theories and three finalist theories). To put it another way, you must come up with six perspective on the issue.

PORNOGRAPHY

Ethical relativism
Ethical relativism is the theory that holds that morality is relative to the norms of one's culture. Liberals argue pornography as free speech, as an art, and see nothing wrong of having pornography on the net. On the other hand, religious conservatives argue that pornography morally degrades and objectifies women, thus, they cried for censorship.

Ethical absolutism
Pornographic literature, drama, paintings and pictures are all forms of self-expression. Absolutist would defend the individual’s right to freedom of expression, just as we are free to live and work where we choose, so too should we be free to express ourselves in any manner we choose.

Ethical egoism and altruism
Egoist would defend freedom of consenting adults to publish and consume pornography in private, on the otherhand, altruist would argue that pornography be banned for its obscenity, its corrupting impact on the viewers especially minors, and its corrosive effect on traditional family and religious values.

Mill’s UTILITARIANISM
Utilitarianism seeks to maximize the overall satisfaction of the preferences of the greatest numbers of people. Every person should be guaranteed the freedom to do what he or she chooses so long as no harm is done as a result. There is no factual evidence that pornographic literature, drama, paintings and pictures causes harm to others. Some porn may be "offensive" to some people but to ban pornography because it is merely offensive to some is to jeopardize everyone's freedom of expression.

KANT’s Categorical Imperative
Pornography violates the theories of Kant’s Categorical Imperatives. Kantians would argue that we have a duty to protect women from this evil. Degrading the women and using them only as sexual objects to be controlled is a violation of the civil rights of women.

Aristotle’s Virtue Ethics
Virtue ethics point out that human is rational being able to determine what is right and what is wrong. People indulging in pornography must find the right balance between competing moral values--the values of free choice and self-expression--and those of preventing harm and respecting human dignity.