Levinasian view of child pornography and moral solution in the Philippine context

Abstract

This paper critically argues that child pornography is an inherently evil phenomenon demanding an urgent and foundational moral solution derived from the ethics of Emmanuel Levinas. Emerging within complex socio-political landscapes, particularly in the Philippines, this pervasive exploitation represents a profound violation that utterly destroys a child's life possibilities. Utilizing textual and critical analysis, the research first details the historical emergence and escalating prevalence of child pornography, integrating recent empirical data and socio-political factors that perpetuate its growth. It then explicates Levinas's philosophy of infinite, non-reciprocal responsibility, demonstrating how his concepts of the 'Face' and 'totalization' prove the act's inherent evil and counter critiques of his philosophy as merely idealistic. The paper questions existing legal solutions as fundamentally weak in addressing this evil alone, advocating for Levinasian ethics as a paramount moral imperative. It concludes that only by embracing this radical responsibility can a truly ethical response be forged, fostering a collective moral consciousness to restore dignity and secure the boundless future of every child.