"The Poverty of Liberalism"

Paper Summary:

This paper critically analyzes the article, "Sexual Equality and the Problem of an Adequate Moral Theory: The Poverty of Liberalism," written by Lorenne Clark. The paper evaluates the strength of Clark's arguments that pornography should be banned and that it is beyond the ability of liberalism in its current form to grasp this truth.

From the Paper:

"Again, it is impossible to substantiate premise 1, one way or the other. Merely on this basis, the argument would fail. However, even if we were to accept both premises, it is argued that the entire argument should still fail. This is because the conclusion does not follow. There are many things that sustain the current unequal system, but we cannot simply ban all of them. This would entail, for example, banning the nuclear family, marriage, most major corporations, Hollywood, etc. It is true that we need to challenge inequities in the system, but we cannot achieve this by banning everything we think contributes to it. A more effective way needs to be found. Presumably, if Clark is right and pornography functions to sustain the system, then once the system is changed, pornography will simply go away."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Clark, Lorenne. "Sexual Equality and the Problem of an Adequate Moral Theory: The Poverty of Liberalism." Search of the Feminist Perspective: The Changing Potency of Women. Eds. Mary Kathryn Shirley and Rachel Emma Vigier. Toronto: Resources for Feminist Research, Special Publication no. 5 (Spring 1979).

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