For centuries, societies have sought to understand what constitutes an "ideal" relationship between individuals. This has involved various approaches such as religious dogma, traditional values, moral codes, and even scientific studies.
One area that has been largely ignored is the role of sexual identity in shaping these concepts. Specifically, the history of queer erasure from philosophy and ethics has had significant implications for how we think about justice today.
The concept of justice has been central to Western thought since ancient Greece, where it was defined as the practice of giving each person their due. This entails equality before the law and equal access to resources, which are essential for maintaining social harmony. But this ideal fails to account for the experiences of LGBTQ+ people who have historically been denied basic rights and subjected to discrimination. By excluding them from mainstream discussions on morality, philosophers have missed out on valuable insights into the nature of human relationships and interactions.
One major example of historical erasure can be found in Aristotle's writings on friendship. He famously described two types of love - romantic and platonic - but failed to acknowledge same-sex relationships as valid forms of intimacy. This oversight has led to a misunderstanding of the true nature of love, which must include all kinds of loves. Similarly, Immanuel Kant proposed a deontological theory based on duty rather than emotional connections, ignoring the importance of feelings in interpersonal relationships.
In more recent times, feminist philosophers have challenged these normative frameworks by emphasizing the power dynamics between individuals and exploring different ways of being intimate. Their work has helped uncover how traditional notions of gender roles and heteronormativity shape our understanding of what is acceptable in society.
They too have neglected the experience of LGBTQ+ communities, whose identities often challenge conventional ideas of masculinity/femininity or binary gender categories.
The consequences of this erasure have been far-reaching, affecting everything from marriage laws to legal protections against discrimination. It has also shaped our moral intuitions, making us less likely to recognize injustices against queer people as wrongdoing. As a result, we may fail to uphold justice when it comes to issues like healthcare access or employment opportunities.
To address these problems, we need to rethink our approaches to ethics and philosophy by incorporating diverse perspectives into the conversation. This requires recognizing the historical contributions of marginalized groups and their experiences. Only then can we hope to create a just world where everyone feels safe and valued.
How does historical erasure of LGBT identities affect contemporary philosophical and ethical reasoning about justice?
Historical erasure of LGBT identities has impacted contemporary philosophy and ethics regarding issues such as justice by creating a lack of awareness and understanding of these identities and their struggles. This can lead to a narrow viewpoint that fails to account for diverse experiences and perspectives, which hinders the development of just and equitable solutions to social problems.