(September 2, 2015 at 1:58 pm)Catholic_Lady Wrote: I am curious to know though, what is the secular argument for why beastiality acts should be illegal? I know you will all say that animals can't give consent, but if you're doing it in such a way that is not hurting them physically, mentally, or emotionally, and if they don't understand sex or what is going on, then why would we need their consent for it?
(1) With our current abilities, we largely cannot know the extent to which our actions affect an animal physically, emotionally or mentally. In the absence of such knowledge, it's better, IMO, to err on the side of caution and not go around fucking them just because we want to. It could be causing harm we don't know how to measure or detect.
(2) I'm in favor bodily autonomy. We do violate animals' bodily autonomy on a fairly regular basis but by in large that violation is in the animal's best interest: vaccinations against diseases, visits to vets or by vets in general, dental or medical procedures to which animals cannot consent, etc. Bestiality violates an animals bodily autonomy for no other reason that because the human wants to have an orgasm. In that respect, to me, it's no different than rape which is a non-consenting act that violates the victim's body.
(3) It is, fundamentally, an issue of consent, even if you cause harm. There are sexual acts that can and do result in physical harm to one or more parties participating, but if all parties are consenting participants then who am I to condemn their sexual proclivities? You don't have the right to have sex with an adult human in a comma even though it won't injury them physically, emotionally or mentally, even though they won't have any memory of the event or what's going on, because they are not in a position to give consent.
Throwing in the caveat of "what if it causes no harm?" doesn't change whether or not consent should be sought and obtained.
Teenaged X-Files obsession + Bermuda Triangle episode + Self-led school research project = Atheist.
