Is there anything especially wrong with bestiality?

Question

After all, pigs have been known to have sex with sheep; horses have sex with donkeys and produce mules...

So what's wrong with a human having sex with a chimp? Socially abnormal and unethical but surely not immoral.

James G, I'm thrilled that you understand the meaning of my question. Yahoo answers is not full of poorly educated people after all.

Have a read of Steven Pinker's 'The Blank Slate'. Of course he does not endorse beastiality, who does, but it's a good read with some fasinating isights into the human animal.

Answer 1

How, according to your defintiton, is unethical NOT immoral? I thought they were one and the same.

As far as bestiality goes - yes, it is wrong.

If two different non-human species have sex with each other, then they are on a level playing ground. They are both animals working on instinct.

If a human has sex with an animal, the playing field is no longer level. Not only is the animal NOT consenting (thereby making it rape), the animals is often unable to defend itself (again, rape).

So, how on earth is rape NOT wrong?

And I say the human is always in control, because I have yet to hear or really believe that a larger animal has attempted to rape a human being. Furthermore, if an animal DID try to sleep with you, will you consent to it?

Bestiality is disgusting and conviction-worthy in my opinion.

Answer 2

First, responding to a previous post, there is a huge difference between ethics and morals. If you don't believe me then look it up in the dictionary.

Secondly, the only thing "wrong" with bestiality was alluded to in that same previous post. It is a matter of consent. Humans have a social stigma surrounding sex (a very good stigma) which dictates that sex without consent is rape. Ergo all inter-species sex is rape (at least by our moral standards). I do not agree with the comments made which reference "animal instinct" as justification for other species having intercourse amongst themselves. Because humans are animals too. We often like to think we are in a class to ourselves, partly because of the whole manifest destiny crap that was imbued in our minds (the Biblical references to man's "dominion" over animals, and how we are superior), and also partly because we see ourselves as more technologically advanced and thereby assume we are more evolutionarily advanced (even though we are very genetically close to chimps). Human beings are just big dumb animals. This is evident by our waste of resources, selfish nature, and preoccupation with sex--human beings are playing upon their survival of the fittest "animal instincts" in the same way that other animals are. Yet, in humanity's attempts to survive, reproduce, and build functioning societies, certain rules and social standards were erected. Hence the references to rape, consent, etc. The problem with a human having sex with a different species is that we have a reflective consciousness, as Alexander said we "think about thinking" and--even though we act on instincts--we are more aware of the implications of instincts and the logic behind them. We are logical creatures, and although in some part of our brain the signals given by a chimp may be confused with sexually advantageous human signals (smells, gestures, etc.), we realize the utter stupidity of having sex with a chimp and we don't do it. More info on the human mind and how it developed can be found in a book by Rossano called "Evolutionary Psychology," it really helps explain why we naturally act, react, and think in certain ways, yet society makes humans act, react, and think in different ways.

The long and the short of it is that in order for us to survive as well as we have, humans have adapted to recognize the logic behind certain actions and resist impulses that might have been advantageous at one point in evolutionary history (for example, having proliferates sex might have helped survival and reproduction, even if occasionally a human mistakenly had sex with a chimp. in the end the benefits outweighed the cost). A quote from a course I once took sums it up "our modern skulls house caveman minds." Just because something may be an animal impulse, or "natural" doesn't make it beneficial or morally right. And having sex with other species is not beneficial by any means; it often spreads disease and parasites, and it just makes no logical sense. Hence it is ousted from human society. If it has no benefit, then why waste the energy having sex with a chimp? All it can do, evolutionarily speaking, is hurt you. So avoid it. It may not be "wrong" compared to the standards laid down by our animal friends, but then again neither is walking around naked, committing murder, or stealing. But of course we (humans) are too smart to let these things go on, because we realized a long time ago that we survive better with rules rather than anarchy.

Answer 3

we are "higher mammals"
pigs don't know they're about to be slaughtered, but people do.
the point is, we're supposed to know hetter than to do stupid sh*t like that!
if you don't think it's immoral to kiss an evolutionary cousin a few steps doen the dna chain, i wonder if you'd do the same with a direct family member...
there are just a few things that are off limits.... that's one of them.

where's your head at anyway?
oh, just eeeeewwwwwwwwww

Answer 4

You disgusting pig. How can people get reported on this site for saying borderline controversial things about things such as gays and lesbians, anything to do with race, but not for asking a question like this.

Answer 5

Well, in some ways it's wrong. But look at it this way, if you agree with bestiality, then you could actually do it "doggy style" with an actual dog. J/K

Answer 6

Well, you know, there kind of is something wrong with it. For one, the animal cannot truly consent to a sexual act. Also, it is icky and ickier.

Answer 7

Chips throw their poo- and everyone has limits.
My personal limit is to not have sex with anything that throws poo. Or anything 'that' hairy... or with that bad of breath... or anything that reminds me of Ron Jeremy..

Answer 8

Whatever. If you think it's ok, well whatever. But there are laws against it if that matters to you.

Answer 9

It's according to perspective. I think it's immoral, you don't; I won't do it EVER, you might.

Answer 10

no its pure nasty, it is one thing for man to mimic the motions but to actually go do it with a animal is pure nasty