It is illegal in most locales of the USA, but does that mean that prostitution is unethical? What do you think?
2007-07-27 11:59:14 · 10 answers · asked by sokrates 4 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
I think that one could object to prostitution on Kantian grounds. It seems possible to appeal to the categorical imperative as a logical argument for the unethical nature of prostitution. Prostitution results in a rational subject being treated as a means to an end only and not as an end in itself. It tramples on the human person's dignity which emanates from the rational nature of the person or rational agent.
2007-07-27 13:12:47 · update #1
Prostitution is disgusting and extremely sad to see that women/men see the only potential in themselves is to spread their legs. Pathetic, really.
2007-07-27 12:03:43 · answer #1 · answered by greenbay_packers_rock04 2 · 1⤊ 3⤋
Of course it isn't.
In principle prostitution is but another service that is filled by a demand/need no different than any other service .
Illegality does not necessarily have anything to do with ethics/morality.
In most jurisdictions ,prostitution is illegal but in at least two including Nevada it is legal.
Same goes for gambling where it was once totally illegal it is now even the business of governments.
For something to be immoral or un-ethical,it must be viewed in the context of a moral/ethical code/system such as the Judeo-Christian moral/ethical code but there are many more such systems.
Is prostitution un-ethical according to the predominant Judeo-Christian code ?? Probably but many things are legal that are a violation of our Judeo-Christian code.
All of this to say that viewing prostitution from a reigious moral/ethical code perspective while important to the religious ,is really moot in respect to how the word "ethical" is generally used today.
Paying somebody for a massage is no different at it's core than paying someone for sex.It is a private transaction between consenting adults (usually) that does not violate the rights of others .It may violate other parties as in adultery but that is a seperate issue.
Like gambling (even most Churches today sanction and are in fact involved in gambling such as bingo etc) ,I have no doubt that not to far in the future prostitution will be legal and when made legal it will in fact have a positive ethical result in at least three ways.
First ,prostitutes will have to be regularly given medicals to ensure they have no Sexually transmittable diseases and secondly as a service,prostitution will be taxed like any other service/business.
Once legalized,most of the underworld crime/violence currently associated with prostitution will be greatly reduced.
Also remember well that there are a host of things that Christian Churches once considered both immoral and un-ethical and were part of the Judeo-Christian code but today they are no longer on their "immoral/un-ethical " list.
Most who are against prostitution today have little ethical basis for their objection and are usually your typical holier-than-thou moralizing,sanctimonious and often hypocritical fundamentalist religious person.
2007-07-27 19:29:53 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
No I don't think it is unethical. The morality issue is the biggest one, especially when most of their customers are married!
I think it is sad that a person has to prostitute themselves in order to survive as the only thing thay have going for them is their body, for the most part!
2007-07-27 19:14:07 · answer #3 · answered by cantcu 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not fundamentally, but it is an unhealthy and potentially degrading job as it is usually practiced.
2007-07-27 19:03:59 · answer #4 · answered by bravozulu 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I have nothing but respect for anyone who chooses use the assets they have available to support themselves and their families
2007-07-27 19:03:12 · answer #5 · answered by responder 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It's a necessary evil ,but make sure they are over seventeen
2007-07-27 19:03:04 · answer #6 · answered by sparkles 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I find it unethical, personally. It's disturbing that people have to pay to get sexual gratification, but to each his own.
2007-07-27 19:02:22 · answer #7 · answered by Glen B 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Only because of it's legal status, but yes.
2007-07-27 19:01:45 · answer #8 · answered by Beardog 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I dunno. While I was married, it would have been unethical. Now that the wife died .. I dunno, maybe.
For the stripper I just met? She says she's working her way through university and I'm helping her pay her tuition. Sounds better than financially crippling student loans.
But ethically? I'd have to read her sorority's charter.
2007-07-27 19:04:26 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
We all pay for it one way or another don't we?
2007-07-27 19:03:38 · answer #10 · answered by the truth 2 · 3⤊ 1⤋