An Issue Discussed from 6 Perspectives

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 perspectives on the issue.

Issue: Internet Pornography


First Perspective – Ethical Relativism

In the light of this ethical principle, all absolutist views about Internet pornography will be rejected as this principle supports exceptional cases to almost every rule due to different contexts and conditions among acts like pornography in the Internet. So Internet pornography is tolerated in some contexts and not in other contexts. But a single rule imposed on just one side of the two-sided Internet pornography issue is frowned upon by this ethical perspective.


Second Perspective – Ethical Absolutism

In this perspective, the issue of Internet pornography is either good or bad and there should never be a gray area. This perspective is backed up by rigid factors that are universal, constant and having unchanging reasons for judging the issues.


Third Perspective – Ethical Egoism and Ethical Altruism

Since the object of the ethical egoism perspective concentrates on the “self” (it may also be altruism that is masked behind self-interest), tolerance or intolerance of the Internet pornography issue cannot be a matter of social proportions rather; it is just an individual issue. An individual could assess the issue as an object of aversion or desire and this individual assessment cannot be generalized to apply to all individuals. Since ethical altruism is also an individual issue, this perspective is similar in some ways with ethical egoism regarding the issues of computing like Internet pornography.


Fourth Perspective – John Stuart Mill’s utilitarianism

For this perspective, the issue must be subjected to the “greatest happiness” function. Of course this means that the issue should produce happiness and help people involved to avoid pain. It is inherent in this principle to resolve the issues using the greatest happiness function for promoting judgment that could achieve near universality.


Fifth Perspective – Immanuel Kant’s Categorical Imperatives

“First, to have moral worth, an action should be done out of duty.” This cannot be applied to all circumstances and all contexts regarding Internet pornography since the duties regarding actions of Internet pornography vary widely. “Second, an action done from duty does not have its moral worth in the purpose, which is to be achieved through it, but in the maxim by which it is determined”. This also does not have universal application considering that Internet pornography’s maxim might be to educate or even just to entertain. In this regard Internet pornography could be a hypothetical imperative since the issue could be good for something else. Since some might also hold that Internet pornography has its inherent value, and that it is good in itself the issue could be regarded by some as a categorical imperative. What is apparent is that this perspective also has diverse views on the issue.


Sixth Perspective – Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics

In this perspective, the issue could be subjected to classification as instrumental, final, or supreme. We could classify the issue as being one of the three in different contexts. Although sexually-related activities are more often given the bad hype, some proponents view sexually-related activities as having pure and non-malicious worth. Internet pornography might also be regarded as being driven by moral or intellectual virtue. Since the perspective makes heavy use of moderation. So the issue of Internet pornography as much as any other issue could be a candidate to being a virtue through moderation.