Introduction
Perhaps no other profession or ethical dilemma is as widely reviled or urgent as that of prostitution. Prostitution is often associated with wrongdoing like violating the law, exploiting others, pestering, and even hurting people. One could argue that prostitution is ethically correct because it provides a means for people to support themselves and determine what they do with their bodies. On the other hand, prostitution can be viewed as unethical because it violates religious tenets, uses pressure, and undermines moral standards.
Arguments For the Legalization of Prostitution
If prostitution was legalized, society would profit from increased equity, protection of individual liberties, reduced crime, and increased tax income. However, if prostitution was illegal, virtue ethics would be promoted more. Crime rates, public health, tax revenues, the number of people lifted out of destitution, and the rights of individuals to make their own decisions are all areas that could see improvements if prostitution were legalized. In spite of this, the consequences of such an action could lead to increased offenses like human trafficking, rape, and pimping. Less sexual attacks, coerced drug addiction, physical abuse, and mortality might result from redefining prostitution as unethical (Demand Abolition, 2018).
Due to the aforementioned implications, a safer option would be to legalize prostitution and handle it like any other profession by imposing regulations. Since the right to sell one’s sexual services is the same as the right to sell one’s labor power in any of its many forms, this approach more accurately reflects the moral rights of the impacted parties. The common good approach holds that the essence of community living is good, and people’s activities should promote that good (Santa Clara University, 2021). The spread of sexually transmitted diseases could be mitigated, and more care could be given to the community if prostitution was legalized.
Conclusion
Prostitution can be legalized so that everyone benefits from increased fairness and the ensuing rights protections, a drop in crime rates, and additional tax money. Still, it being illegal, on the other hand, would motivate people to practice morality. A ban on prostitution would be seen as favoring religious people whose views strongly disapprove of the practice.
Therefore, the impacted parties would be treated more equitably if prostitution was legalized. The virtues in question involve a thorough understanding of what it means to be virtuous and were intended to be enforced through the judicial system. Virtue ethics would contend that criminalizing prostitution is crucial for society to nurture morally upright individuals.
Reference
Demand Abolition. (2018). Why prostitution shouldn’t be legal. Web.
Santa Clara University. (2021). A framework for ethical decision making. Markkula Center for Applied Ethics. Web.