Pornography without prejudice

Some see it as the clearest sign of the moral degeneracy of the times, other believe it makes a valuable contribution to society.

What are the facts? Does pornography do harm, as some people believe? Or is the fury that it arouses more a symptom of a basic maladjustment to human sexuality? Could pornography possible have good effects?

G. L. Simmons here dissects the arguments against pornography, the supposed grounds for punitive legislation, and comes down firmly on the side of a liberal - some would say permissive - interpretation of the evidence. At the same time he argues that pornography should be judged, but in artistic and aesthetic terms rather than in terms of ethics and law.

In the present climate of opinion on pornography, a climate often characterised more by emotion than by careful assessment, PORNOGRAPHY WITHOUT PREJUDICE is a sorely needed contribution, especially in view of the forthcoming publication of the Longford report.

Geoff L. Simmons. Pornography without prejudice: A reply to objectors. London: Abelard-Schuman, 1972. 169 pp.