The Nexus Between Social Injustices and Pornographic Performance: A Thomistic Philosophical-Anthropological Argument

This paper examines the moral status of pornography by arguing for the often-overlooked factor of social injustice as a supportive condition for pornography performance. It diverges from existing theoretical accounts of pornography grounded in explanations of human fallenness, genetic determinism, patriarchy, Cyrenaic-like materialism, libertarianism and its associated individual human rights claims. Beyond explaining the moral status of pornography, these theoretical perspectives have guided social practice through legislation. In conservative societies, legislation is passed to curtail pornography, with the view that it distorts societal moral values, while in liberal societies, legislating pornography is discouraged to protect people’s liberty and sexual autonomy. Diverging from existing theoretical views, this paper situates this moral challenge in the prevalent social injustices which modify certain essential human attributes, hence propelling pornography performance. The paper uses a qualitative document-analysis method. It employs Thomistic philosophical anthropological lenses, along with tools for conceptual clarification, philosophical critique, and diagnostic and prescriptive analysis. The paper argues that the human person is, among other things, a rational individual with a material reality. Rationality and individuality act as metaphysical foundations of moral claims of human freedom and privacy, which are inconsistent with pornographic performance. However, due to prevailing social injustices, amidst the inevitable need to satisfy one’s material requirements, human freedom is modified, making people participate in activities such as pornography, which are inconsistent with their essentiality. The significance of this argument lies in its shift from predominantly moralistic and libertarian accounts of pornography toward a social justice perspective. It normatively suggests an alternative approach of attending to social justice, especially by focusing on distributive justice to rectify the economic challenges that trigger pornography today.