It appears to me that sexual promiscuity is becoming a norm among the youth of my age. Yet, at the same time, the youth of my age have a religious zeal toward protecting what they conceptualize as human dignity (whether they are right or not). I find in their beliefs a contradiction. And this contradiction is between their promiscuous behavior and their belief in human dignity.
If an average Western person were to be asked whether all human beings inherently have dignity to be respected, the average person would not hesitate to agree. However, if the same person were to be asked if watching pornography or sexual hook-ups are morally tolerable, the person would again not hesitate to say that they are morally tolerable.
But there is this obvious and glaring contradiction between these two beliefs. What part of pornography and hook-ups respect the dignity of another? The intent of pornography is sexual pleasure by spectating, and the intent of hook-ups is sexual pleasure by real human interaction. In both instances, one uses another - be it across the screen or in person - toward the end of personal satisfaction with no good for the other in sight. This is different from romantic relationship in that romantic relationships are aimed toward the good of both, not one; they are intended to be beneficial for both, not selfish. For both acts disregard the other's good out of personal pleasure, it can be said that sexual promiscuity promoted by pornography and hook-up culture cannot coincide with respecting human dignity.
At the same time, however, one of a deviant conscience would suggest that one can still respect the dignity of another while using someone for the end of personal sexual pleasure. Then this person of a deviant conscience perhaps has no proper conceptual understanding of human dignity and/or no proper understanding of one's own thought process. Is someone who is watching porn bent on taking into consideration the good of the actors? Exploiting another's sexual attributes toward self-satisfaction can hardly be said to be taking into consideration of the other's good. Is someone who is having a one night stand bent on taking into account the welfare of one's sexual partner? These behaviors are apparent only among couples in love.
