Essay - Ethics and Morality the Cultural Effects of Pornography the Purpose...

Ethics and Morality

***** Cultural Effects of Pornography

The purpose of this paper is to introduce, discuss, ***** analyze the topic of ethics and morality. Specifically it will discuss whether pornography has a cultural effect on society, ***** back up the conclusion with information and research. Since the rapid popularity and use of ***** Internet in the United States and around the globe, pornography and the viewing of ***** online seems to have mushroomed tremendously. Along with ***** increased availability ***** pornographic materials for general viewing, come numerous studies about the effect of pornography on our society and culture. Does pornography have a ***** ***** on society? Most experts agree it ***** a negative effect ***** society, and can lead ***** more violence, less general empathy and understanding, and a general moral decay of the principles and ideals that make up a civilized society.

Wh*****t is pornography? Obviously, pornography and its definition depend on the time, the place, ***** the pers*****. What one person sees as ***** another might simply see ***** titillating entertainment, and that is part of the problem with defining and controlling pornography. One Australian expert, Dr. Michael Flood, defines pornography as "'sexually explicit media that are primarily intended to sexually aro***** the audience'" (***** 2). This ***** seems adequate ***** ***** discussion of pornography ***** culture, because ***** that is designed to "***** arouse the audience" ***** the type of pornography that could also have a lasting effect on ***** ***** and *****s of a society. However, opponents ***** controlling pornography often point to it as an art form and a form of self-expression expressly covered by the First Amendment's guarantee ***** a right to free speech. Clearly, ***** defining pornography is difficult, ***** so are ***** many other issues surrounding this *****.

There are many different forms of pornography. Some people consider erotica, which is designed to be more *****istic and less graphic and explicit ***** a form of *****. Others consider borderline publications such as "Playboy" and "Playgirl" pornographic, while still others feel ***** label better defines more hard-core publications ***** as "Hustler." This illustrates much of the problem ***** pornography - it is not ***** same for each person. Each person views pornography differently, and each ***** allows ***** to ***** them differently. Some ***** spend their entire lives quite happily without ever viewing anything even remotely pornographic. Others become addicted to the medium, ***** cannot go more than a day or two without viewing pornography. As the Internet has become more popular and readily available, so has pornography, and ***** *****ers have studied the effects of ***** both on individuals and *****. ***** results indicate that pornography, especially violent and extremely ***** forms ***** pornography are harmful to *****ciety in ***** long (and short) term.

Of c*****se, one of the most controversial forms of pornography is child pornography, and *****re seems to be little d**********ment that ***** form ***** ***** is ***** harmful and extremely dangerous. The recent case in Idaho, where