Talk at Genital Autonomy 2015 Symposium in Frankfurt, Germany

1. Seksuaalisuuden ja ihmissuhteiden asiantuntija - jo vuodesta 1969
Foreskin Ethics
Whose Rights? Conflicts of interests
and ethical argumentation
Tommi Paalanen
MA, D.Soc.Sci.
Philosopher
Executive Director

2. Why?
Lack of knowledge
Controversy in public debate
Sensititivity towards
multiculturalism
Pseudo-conflict of rights
Cultural and religious rights
vs. right to bodily integrity
Tommi Paalanen, May 2015
Difficult issue?

3. Holy simplicity, Batman!
No tradition of ethics allow
harming of a defenseless person
Maxims
Prohibition of harm
Maximising well-being
Respecting personhood and subjectivity
Care and responsibility
Protecting individual against community
Tommi Paalanen, May 2015
Ethical analysis

4. Harming
= wrongfully setting back other person's interests
Fundamental interests vs. second order interests
Violating fundamental interests and freedoms is wrong without
strong ethical justification like prevention of imminent harm to
others
Tommi Paalanen, May 2015
Interests

5. Mutilating the body of a
defenseless child is an epitome of
harming
Tommi Paalanen, May 2015
Harming

6. Medical
Medically necessary operation, when there is an imminent and
serious threat to the health of the child
Consent-based
Personal decision of an adult
Complications
Social pressure and dependency
Cultural oppression
Tommi Paalanen, May 2015
Justification

7. Cultural rights of parents
vs.
fundamental and cultural rights of a child
Rights are personal
and their scope is also
only personal
Cultural rights cannot
justify violations of other
persons fundamental rights
like bodily integrity
Tommi Paalanen, May 2015
Pseudo-conflict of rights

8. Tommi Paalanen, May 2015
Thank you!