What exactly is the problem with bestiality?

A Tyrant Named Miltiades! wrote: »

I have no paraphilia in this regard! But I wonder why it's a criminal act to penetrate an animal with a genital, and not with a limb? Does this make sense to you?

Seriously, is this just some arbitrary, out-dated distinction?

No I do not think it is an out-dated distinction. Rather it is merely an extension of moral axioms we hold internally as a species.

When it comes to sex we have in our moral systems the concept of "informed consent". We mostly have that to protect minors and mentally compromised individuals from being exploited or abused sexually.

So the concept of informed consent has become integral to the moral opinion on sex for many - if not most - people.

So the issue with Bestiality is going to be affected by this - simply by extension of the concept of informed consent which an animal is in no place to give.

On top of that though I reckon there is a biological health factor involved comprising fears that infections and diseases with the potential to jump species could do so through sexual channels that might not otherwise have had a vector to jump to humans.

Other than that however - I reckon there is an added level in bestiality that we see in topics such as homosexuality. Which is that when someone else is sexually attracted to another in a way completely alien to your own sexuality - there seems to be a knee jerk level of disgust that simply explodes upwards in them.

With things like homosexuality that leads to unwarranted bigotry and so forth. But with things like bestiality I think being against it is indeed warranted - as with paedophilia.

A Tyrant Named Miltiades! wrote: »

It's a legitimate question. If it's so easily, so obviously rubbished, then please do so, using your intelligence.

It happens. Some moral viewpoints are so innate to us after years and generations of building them that many people are in no position to coherently explain what is actually wrong with them.

But rather than take a "Ah I just know it is wrong - but I admit I can not tell you why" approach to the conversation they will lash out - get aggressive - and even declare you to be some kind of sick deviant for even asking the question.

Try it sometime with paedophilia or incest. A lot of people will simply not be able to tell you _why_ these things are considered "wrong" - they just know they are disgusted by them and will hate you for even querying the foundations _of_ that disgust.

Some people more clued in will eventually mention informed consent with regards paedophilia. And they will be able to explain why paedophilia is wrong and is and _should_ be against our moral core.

Incest is less clear cut. Assuming by incest we mean sex between consenting adults - few people are able to explain what they thing is _actually_ wrong with it. They simply do not know and - to be honest - I do not either. I have never seen any moral argument against it that made the remotest shred of sense.

But I _do_ hold fast and dear to the concept of informed consent in all things sexual. So I _do_ hold an equal level of abhorrence for bestiality as I do for paedophilia.