Is incest wrong?

[Midnight shadow]

when it comes to animals, i think it is wrong
but when it comes to humans.... don't know, if it can make your future baby really bad, as in health condition...... then i do not think you should do it
​

Why is it more wrong for animals than humans? In the case of animals a lot of animal species that naturally engage in incest. Anemone fish for example typically live in colonies that are all made up of blood relations. In a colony only the alpha male and female mate and reproduce. If the alpha female dies or leaves the colony, the alpha male undergoes a sex change and becomes female, and one of the other males becomes the alpha. This new alpha may very well be a child of the new alpha female.

 

[Pebbles]

Why is it more wrong for animals than humans? In the case of animals a lot of animal species that naturally engage in incest. Anemone fish for example typically live in colonies that are all made up of blood relations. In a colony only the alpha male and female mate and reproduce. If the alpha female dies or leaves the colony, the alpha male undergoes a sex change and becomes female, and one of the other males becomes the alpha. This new alpha may very well be a child of the new alpha female.

i never said it is more wrong when it comes to animals ~_~

my post basically shows i do not know much about it when it comes to us humans and what it does to human babies​

 

[Kanzler]

I thought that I might as well answer the OP, considering that it's mine, so:

I personally don't care about whether or not others perform incestuous acts, as long as both parties are consenting adults. If said parties fully understand the social ramifications of said acts, then it isn't my place to tell them that what they're doing is "wrong". That being said, I will never fully understand the motivation behind said acts, as I don't see my siblings in that way.

Biologically, it can be argued that there is a problem with incest. If we are to consider the genetic defects that can arise in offspring, then sure. However, it's been pointed out in this thread that a couple may decide not to have children - two rational adults would surely be able to judge that they shouldn't procreate? If the biological issue is removed, then why exactly is it wrong? It would merely come down to social stigma.

There are circumstances in which one's parents will not approve of their choice of partner, regardless of whether or not it's their sibling. Should you ignore your parents and follow your heart, despite the love and care that they've given you since you were born? In some cultures, parents have such a heavy hand in their children's love lives that any deviation from expectation will be met with severe disapproval - yet is it not the child's choice? Are they not allowed to fall in love, and be happy with the one they love?

The reason that you posit for the occurrence of incestuous acts is silly - a guy that's down on his luck won't suddenly be able to have sex with his sister, just as a similar guy wouldn't be able to pick a random stranger and have sex with her. Incest between two consenting adults still involves two rational parties, I doubt you could just initiate such a relationship because your love life "sucks".

I think the social impact matters. At the end of the day, many family issues are not solved because of what's right and wrong, but because of what's agreeable to the parties involved. I think whenever someone makes a decision, they ought to consider everybody who has a stake in the decision. For incest, family and extended family might have a stake in their reputations. They might fear that their reputation would be damaged should news of incest in their family gets out in a society that by and large disapproves of incest. And that matters. I think it's too simplistic to say that it's simply a decision between two lovers. If my incest got out and my family is treated differently by friends and neighbours because of it, I played a hand and am responsible for that. It might be my right to love whoever truly consents to me, but I also have a responsibility to my family. It's a difficult decision to make and I don't believe that my right is paramount to other considerations. I think framing it as a "right vs. wrong" is too simplistic to capture all the ethical nuances that are in between right and wrong.

We also live in a society under law, and incest will undoubtedly be reflected in the law. Harley made some great points about the difficulty in legislating about consent, let alone incest. It is already so difficult to find justice for victims of sexual assault. If we made incest about consent, legally, then those who suffer from unconsensual incest will suffer the same way. Right now, where incest is criminalized, the bar is lower where the mere existence of sexual activity is enough to convict someone of incest. I think the law as it is does a better job of protecting those who suffer from familial rape. As a victim, you wouldn't have to fear your case being thrown out because of inconsistencies or the credibility of your testimony.

 

[Midnight shadow]

i never said it is more wrong when it comes to animals ~_~

my post basically shows i do not know much about it when it comes to us humans and when it does to human babies​

It seemed implied that you thought it was more wrong for animals than humans, apologies. The question still stands as to why you believe it wrong with animals, but aren't sure about humans?

 

[pastelspectre]

I do not mind it as long as it is consensual. That's really all I have to say on it. If it is not forced or harming anyone else I don't really see an issue with it.

 

[RegalSin]

well I know things that are a lot worst then keeping it in the family. incest is wrong because babies born from such activities might have deformations. Take Albino people or Albino animals for instance is one trait that comes from incest. Again the deformations.