Breast Implants
Radio Q&A: Sunday, 4 November 2012, Question 2
In the live broadcast of Philosophy in Action Radio on 4 November 2012, I answered a question on breast implants.
What advice should I give to a friend considering breast implants? A friend of mine is considering breast implants, purely for cosmetic reasons. In other words, she's not having reconstructive surgery after a mastectomy: she just wants larger breasts. Do you think that purely cosmetic breast implant surgery is moral? Is it wise? What advice should I give her, if any?
My Answer, In Brief: You should recognize that breast implant surgery is not necessarily moral or immoral. It can be immoral if the woman evades the risks, spends money that she can't afford, acts on a second-handed desire to please someone else, or otherwise sacrifices greater values. But it can be moral for a woman of healthy self-esteem who has been bothered by the size or shape of breasts, provided that she understands the risks of surgery and can afford the surgery.
Tags: Body Image, Ethics, Medicine, Personal Values, Self-Esteem, Vanity
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- Duration: 14:44
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Relevant Links
- FDA: Breast Implant Complications Booklet
- Possible Complications of Breast Augmentation Surgery
- Do Breast Implants Affect Breast Cancer Risk? and Study: Implants Affect Breast Cancer Diagnosis But Not Survival
- WebMD: How Will Breast Implants Change Your Life?
- PsychCentral: Breast Implants Don't Solve Underlying Self-esteem Issues
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About Philosophy in Action Radio
I'm Dr. Diana Hsieh. I'm a philosopher specializing the application of rational principles to the challenges of real life. I received my Ph.D in philosophy from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 2009. My dissertation defended moral responsibility and moral judgment against the doubts raised by Thomas Nagel's "problem of moral luck."
My radio show, Philosophy in Action Radio, broadcasts live over the internet on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings. On Sunday mornings, I answer four meaty questions applying rational principles to the challenges of real life in a live hour-long show. Greg Perkins of Objectivist Answers co-hosts the show. On Wednesday evenings, I interview an expert guest about a topic of practical importance.
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