Read 22
Rape
Suppose a man wants to rape a woman. Would this ever be a moral act?
VALUE OF LIFE PRINCIPLE.
The Value of Life principle would certainly be violated whether or not the woman were killed because her life and its quality would be threatened by the act of rape. She would be sexually violated and also violated in other ways, both physically and psychologically.
PRINCIPLE OF GOODNESS.
Obviously, there is nothing good for the woman in the act of rape. The only possible good in the act would be the pleasure the rapist might get, but that pleasure is certainly to be classed as malicious because it totally disregards the pain and unhappiness of his victim.
PRINCIPLE OF JUSTICE.
There is no way the rapist’s act could be considered to be just or fair to the woman because he would be forcing himself on her against her wishes and without her permission, committing the greatest invasion of her privacy and her life.
PRINCIPLE OF HONESTY AND TRUTH TELLING.
The Principle of Honesty and Truth Telling may or may not come into the picture, depending upon whether or not the rapist lies to the woman in order to get her into a situation where the rape can take place.
PRINCIPLE OF INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM.
Because rape violates all of the first four principles, it can never be considered as moral, and, therefore, no man or woman should ever have the freedom to rape another.