Queerness challenges traditional morality
Traditional moral philosophies have always been based on the assumption that there is an objective and unchanging human nature, which dictates what we ought to do and be. But this concept breaks down when applied to queer individuals who challenge these norms through their unique identities.
Many people identify as neither male nor female, yet they still feel like they belong somewhere within the spectrum of masculinity/femininity. This implies that gender is fluid and changeable rather than fixed, casting doubt on the validity of rigid binary systems. In the same way, some individuals may shift between heterosexuality and homosexuality, challenging the idea that sexual orientation is inherently stable.
The fluidity of identity raises questions about the very foundation of morality, making it difficult to define right action without accounting for these variations.
Moral philosophy's reliance on essence
The main pillar of Western moral philosophy has historically been the pursuit of human essence - the core qualities or attributes that make us human and good.
If human identity is dynamic and ever-shifting, as queerness suggests, then it becomes unclear how to locate a stable point from which to derive ethical guidelines. Traditional thinkers such as Plato and Aristotle argued that human beings had an essential telos, or purpose, which we could discover by reflecting on our innate nature. But if this purpose can only be found in one's own experience, then any attempt to impose universal moral standards would necessarily fail. Similarly, contemporary theories such as deontology and utilitarianism rely on abstract principles that may not apply equally across all contexts. Queer theorists have therefore called into question the very notion of objectivity in morality, suggesting that it relies too heavily on outdated metaphysical assumptions.
A solution?
One possible response to this problem is to embrace contingency in moral decision-making, recognizing that what matters most is not objective truth but subjective preference. This approach prioritizes individual autonomy over external authority, allowing people to create their own values based on their unique experiences.
A genderqueer person might choose to identify with masculinity or femininity for certain purposes while rejecting them at other times, emphasizing the role of choice and agency in shaping personal meaning. Another option is to reject the idea of a fixed essence altogether and focus instead on social justice, recognizing that inequality and oppression are at the root of many moral dilemmas. Regardless of whether we accept a fixed or fluid model of identity, the challenge remains to reconcile these tensions within our understanding of morality.
How does the fluidity of queer identity problematize the metaphysical pursuit of essence that underlies much of Western moral philosophy?
The fluidity of queer identity can be seen as problematic for the metaphysical pursuit of essence that underlies much of Western moral philosophy because it challenges the idea that there is an essential or fixed nature to human existence. In many philosophical traditions, such as Platonism, the goal is to understand the true essence or form of things, which is believed to exist independently of any particular instance or manifestation.