Question Yesterday I and one of my friends had a discussion about doing plastic surgery for nose, hair or other parts of the face or body in order to make one's physical appearance more beautiful. We didn't come to a common point of view regarding rightfulness of this action. What is your idea?

Accepted:
September 30, 2010

Comments

It's not clear to me that the question of whether one should undergo plastic surgery even falls within the scope of morality. (Following certain recent philosophers, such as Robert Adams, T. M. Scanlon, J. B. Schneewind, and Susan Wolf, I am inclined to think that the scope of morality is actually rather narrow.)

Here's one way to frame the issue in terms of morality. If one thought that one's body has been entrusted to one by God to preserve, then one may think it impermissible, indeed a transgression against God's will, if one were to tamper with that body. But then, it would seem, such a person would also be unwilling to lift weights, use make-up, go to the hair salon, etc.. This, however, seems to me to be a somewhat implausible position, that would have all sorts of problematic consequences, especially when one considers medical care (Christian Scientists encounter problems on this score).

To my mind, it seems that one has the right to do with one's body what one pleases, and the only limit on what one does should be common sense, and one's own good judgment and taste.