Essay About Censorship Of Pornography And Mark Wicclair

A Look Into The Censorship Of Pornography
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Mark Wicclair argues that we should be very wary about the censorship of pornography,
even if pornography, as Helen Longino defines it, exists. In order to fully understand
Wicclairs reason for being wary of the censorship of pornography it is important that we
use Helen Longinos definition of pornography. Helen Longino defines pornography as
“[the] verbal or pictoral explicit representations of sexual behavior thathave as a
distinguishing characteristic Ðthe degrading and demeaning portrayal of the role
and status of the human femaleas a mere sexual object to be exploited and
manipulated sexually (p.43).”
Helen Longinos definition can be used as the basis of numerous arguments dealing with
pornography. In this paper, I will deal with only one controversial aspect of
pornography. That aspect is the censorship of pornography. Although Wicclair raises
several reasons for being wary of the censorship of pornography, I will discuss only two
of those objections in this paper.
The first reason Wicclair gives for his claim that we should be wary about the
censorship of pornography is that negative side effects are likely to occur if pornography
is censored. Wicclair focuses his argument on the slippery slope effect, which he claims
is a negative effect of the censoring of pornography. In this context, the slippery slope
effect is defined by Wicclair as “…a serious risk that once any censorship is allowed, the
power to censor will, over time, expand in unintended and undesirable directions
(p.382).” This definition along with “…the fact that it is extremely difficult, if not
impossible, to formulate unequivocal and unambiguous criteria for censorship (Wicclair
p. 382),” Wicclair makes the conclusion that “[t]he slippery slope effect will
eventually…suppress the rights, interests, and values of others (p.382).”
I agree with Wicclairs first reason for his argument against the censorship of
pornography. I also believe that the censorship of pornography will cause the slippery
slope effect. Because the slippery slope effect is extremely difficult to stop once it has
been started, I believe the censorship of pornography will lead to the suppression of many
freedoms of expression. When many freedoms of expression are suppressed then
censorship no longer effects just pornography in Longinos sense. Therefore, I believe
that by censoring pornography citizens of American will most likely have less expressive
liberty.
I also believe that once Longinos definition of pornography is censored, the
slippery slope effect will continually occur, as its name implies. Thus, the argument of
censoring pornography as Longino defines it would cease to exist and the argument of
censoring pornography as a less explicit definition than Longinos would then take
precedence. I believe that the redefining of pornography would continue to occur
allowing new censorship arguments to rise. This snowball effect (the slippery slope
effect) will eventually impact numerous aspects of American life that were not intended
to be effected by the original argument for censoring pornography.
Though I could give several examples that redefining pornography eventually
effects American life, I will give only two examples: education and economy. First,
continually redefining pornography will eventually lead to the censorship of education
because pornographic material, even as Longino defines it, is discussed and visually
presented in most higher educational institutions. Many college courses could not be
taught if it were not for the liberty to openly discuss and watch pornography and all its
aspects. If we begin to censor pornography, then the some aspects of the educational
system will eventually disappear, such as certain health courses, and students in higher
education will be slighted. Second, if pornography continues to be redefined the
economy will be impacted. With the slippery slope effect, the definition of pornography
will become so strict that many advertisements, movies, and art could not be displayed.
The censorship of pornography in the television industry alone could lead to the loss of
billions of dollars. More importantly, many artists and photographers who depict certain
sexual scenes may be put out of work. So, that is why I believe the slippery slope effect
will keep redefining pornography and allowing for the argument of censorship to
encroach on many aspects of American life.
A second reason Wicclair gives for his argument that we should be wary of
censoring pornography is “that exposure to pornography has a cathartic effect and that it
therefore produces a net reduction in harm to women (Wicclair p.383).” Wicclair further
explains