Advertisement

On the Immorality of Tattoos

  • Matej CíbikEmail author
Article
First Online:

Abstract

Tattoos are widely regarded as morally neutral, and the decision to have them as carrying no ethical implications. The aim of this paper is to question this assumption. I argue that (at least some) decisions to have tattoos involve risks that are not merely prudential—they are normative. The argument starts with a thesis that the power we presently have over our lives is constrained by the need to respect our future selves. If we make a discretionary choice that disregards our future interests and preferences, then, under certain circumstances, we can be morally to blame. I argue that certain decisions to get tattoos fit this description. Therefore, getting some tattoos makes us blameworthy.

Keywords

Moral luck Obligations Personal identity Prudence Tattoos 
This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

Notes

Funding

This publication was supported within the project of Operational Programme Research, Development and Education (OP VVV/OP RDE), “Centre for Ethics as Study in Human Value”, registration No. CZ.02.1.01/0.0/0.0/15_003/0000425, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund and the state budget of the Czech Republic.

References

  1. Arp, R. (ed.). 2012. Tattoos-philosophy for everyone: I ink, therefore I am. Malden: Wiley-Blackwell.Google Scholar
  2. Bernstein, E.F. 2007. Laser tattoo removal. Seminars in Plastic Surgery 21: 175–192.  https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2007-991186.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  3. Bernstein, E.F. 2015. A widespread allergic reaction to black tattoo ink caused by laser treatment. Lasers in Surgery and Medicine 47: 180–182.  https://doi.org/10.1002/lsm.22319.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  4. Dean, D.H. 2010. Consumer perceptions of visible tattoos on service personnel. Managing Service Quality: An International Journal 20: 294–308.  https://doi.org/10.1108/09604521011041998.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  5. Dworkin, R.M. 1994. Life’s dominion. New York: Vintage Books.Google Scholar
  6. Fenske, M. 2007. Tattoos in American visual culture. Berlin: Springer.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  7. Isenberg, A. 1964. Deontology and the ethics of lying. Philosophy and Phenomenological Research 24: 463–480.  https://doi.org/10.2307/2104756.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  8. Kant, I. 2012. Groundwork of the metaphysics of morals. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
  9. Kent, K.M., and E.M. Graber. 2012. Laser tattoo removal: A review. Dermatologic Surgery 38: 1–13.  https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1524-4725.2011.02187.x.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  10. Khunger, N., A. Molpariya, and A. Khunger. 2015. Complications of tattoos and tattoo removal: Stop and think before you ink. Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery 8: 30–36.  https://doi.org/10.4103/0974-2077.155072.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  11. Laux, P., T. Tralau, J. Tentschert, A. Blume, S.A. Dahouk, W. Bäumler, E. Bernstein, B. Bocca, A. Alimonti, H. Colebrook, C. de Cuyper, L. Dähne, U. Hauri, P.C. Howard, P. Janssen, L. Katz, B. Klitzman, N. Kluger, L. Krutak, T. Platzek, V. Scott-Lang, J. Serup, W. Teubner, I. Schreiver, E. Wilkniß, and A. Luch. 2016. A medical-toxicological view of tattooing. The Lancet 387: 395–402.  https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(15)60215-X.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  12. Loos, A. 1975. Ornament and crime. In Programs and manifestoes on 20th-century architecture, ed. U. Conrads. Cambridge: The MIT Press.Google Scholar
  13. Martin, B.A., and C.S. Dula. 2010. More than skin deep: Perceptions of, and stigma against, tattoos. College Student Journal 44: 200–206.Google Scholar
  14. McMahan, J. 2002. The ethics of killing: Problems at the margins of life. Oxford: Oxford University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  15. Nagel, T. 2012. Mortal questions. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  16. Patterson, M., and J. Schroeder. 2010. Borderlines: Skin, tattoos and consumer culture theory. Marketing Theory 10: 253–267.  https://doi.org/10.1177/1470593110373191.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  17. Pronin, E., C.Y. Olivola, and K.A. Kennedy. 2008. Doing unto future selves as you would do unto others: Psychological distance and decision making. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin 34: 224–236.  https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167207310023.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  18. Rawls, J. 1999. A theory of justice, Revised edition. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.Google Scholar
  19. Shoemaker, D. 2016. Personal identity and ethics. In The Stanford encyclopedia of philosophy, ed. E.N. Zalta. Stanford: Metaphysics Research Lab, Stanford University.Google Scholar
  20. Shoham, E. 2010. “Signs of Honor” among Russian inmates in Israel’s prisons. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology 54: 984–1003.  https://doi.org/10.1177/0306624X09344841.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  21. Strawson, P.F. 1962. Freedom and resentment. Proceedings of the British Academy 48: 1–25.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  22. Szasz, T. 2002. Fatal freedom: The ethics and politics of suicide. Syracuse: Syracuse University Press.Google Scholar
  23. Whiting, J. 1986. Friends and future selves. The Philosophical Review 95: 547–580.  https://doi.org/10.2307/2185050.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  24. Whiting, J. 2016. First, second, and other selves: Essays on friendship and personal identity. Oxford: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
  25. Williams, B. 1976. Moral luck. Proceedings of the Aristotelian Society, Supplementary Volumes 50: 115–135.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  26. Williams, B. 1982. Moral luck. New York: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
  27. Wohlrab, S., J. Stahl, and P.M. Kappeler. 2007. Modifying the body: Motivations for getting tattooed and pierced. Body Image 4: 87–95.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2006.12.001.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

Copyright information

© Springer Nature B.V. 2020

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Centre for EthicsUniversity of PardubicePardubiceCzech Republic

Personalised recommendations

Cite article

Buy options