Best Papers Session, Congress of the European Federation of Sexology, Porto 2010.

1. Extreme Sex And Sexual Rights
Exploring the Boundaries
of
Sexual Liberalism
Tommi Paalanen
Moral and Social Philosophy
University of Helsinki
Picture: Qumma Art

2. Three kinds of extreme
1: Marketing phrase of porn
extreme, kinky, bizarre, bdsm…
2: Stretching limits
physical, psychological
challenging conventions
3: Emotional response
personal limits, disgust
impression of extremity

3. Fourth kind: The Law
Finland (2004)
Production or distribution of violent
pornography:
• includes physical markings of an
assault, ie. whipping or sticking
with needles (FBFC)
Great Britain (2009)
Possession of extreme pornography:
• pornographic
• grossly offensive, disgusting or obscene
• portrays in an explicit and realistic way
acts that are life threatening or can
result in serious injury

4. Ethical assessment
Ethical principles
Only prevention of harm to others
can justify restricting one’s autonomy
(J.S.Mill)
Misconception
Extreme porn laws target works of fiction
 Actual sexual violence is already
criminalized
 Confusion between personal revulsion
and moral acceptance
 No harm present

5. Necrobabes

6. Halloween (1978)

7. Conclusions
Laws that criminalize sex practices
(or their depictions) are not justified,
if they do not have a direct connection
to prevention of harm.
 In liberal democratic countries the
purpose of law is not to shape citizens’
sexual preferences
 Policies and laws based on revulsion or
impressions violate sexual rights of
people with atypical sexual desires