I wonder if the degree of technological progress envisioned by transhumanists will eventually make the ethical problems posed by this particular sexual orientation a moot point. Just as we will eventually cure aging, and more easily switch genders, we ought to be able to alter development, for example. An adult-aged person could easily assume a childlike body, while retaining the ability to consent in every ethically relevant sense.
On the other hand, we should eventually know enough about neuroscience to make alterations to aspects of attraction and identity. Gays could become straight, straights could become gay, sadism and masochism levels could be adjusted, gender and sex could be flipped arbitrarily… And pedophilia could be added or subtracted.
We could end up with a society of only straight people—or the opposite—depending on our meta-level preferences. In fact, it would also probably be feasible to turn anyone who wants completely asexual—in the extreme case, doing away with sex entirely (presumably with everyone perfectly okay with their new asexual identity).
Given that as possible, what are our meta-level preferences? Should we prefer to peacefully coexist with pedophile/pedomorph couples, and whatever other combination comes up (furries, tentacles, whatever) or should we just cut the crap and settle on something boring like all-asexual or all-straight?
We could end up with a society of only straight people—or the opposite—depending on our meta-level preferences. In fact, it would also probably be feasible to turn anyone who wants completely asexual
Arguably, the opposite of straight is asexual. At least, not wanting sex with anyone is more clearly opposed to wanting sex with members of the opposite sex than wanting sex with members of the same sex (which is what I assume you meant) is. One person can do both of the latter, but not both of the former.
Anyway, as far as meta-preferences go, by the time all of these parameters can be fiddled with at will my preference is that we be primarily concerned with something else, such that your question feels roughly equivalent to “should we prefer to peacefully coexist with people who mix stripes and plaids, and whatever other combination comes up, or should we settle on something boring like all-leaopard-print or all-sequined?”
I wonder if the degree of technological progress envisioned by transhumanists will eventually make the ethical problems posed by this particular sexual orientation a moot point. Just as we will eventually cure aging, and more easily switch genders, we ought to be able to alter development, for example. An adult-aged person could easily assume a childlike body, while retaining the ability to consent in every ethically relevant sense.
On the other hand, we should eventually know enough about neuroscience to make alterations to aspects of attraction and identity. Gays could become straight, straights could become gay, sadism and masochism levels could be adjusted, gender and sex could be flipped arbitrarily… And pedophilia could be added or subtracted.
We could end up with a society of only straight people—or the opposite—depending on our meta-level preferences. In fact, it would also probably be feasible to turn anyone who wants completely asexual—in the extreme case, doing away with sex entirely (presumably with everyone perfectly okay with their new asexual identity).
Given that as possible, what are our meta-level preferences? Should we prefer to peacefully coexist with pedophile/pedomorph couples, and whatever other combination comes up (furries, tentacles, whatever) or should we just cut the crap and settle on something boring like all-asexual or all-straight?
Arguably, the opposite of straight is asexual. At least, not wanting sex with anyone is more clearly opposed to wanting sex with members of the opposite sex than wanting sex with members of the same sex (which is what I assume you meant) is. One person can do both of the latter, but not both of the former.
Anyway, as far as meta-preferences go, by the time all of these parameters can be fiddled with at will my preference is that we be primarily concerned with something else, such that your question feels roughly equivalent to “should we prefer to peacefully coexist with people who mix stripes and plaids, and whatever other combination comes up, or should we settle on something boring like all-leaopard-print or all-sequined?”