Sexual morality evolves over time

Sexual morality is perceived as an absolute: we all believe pedophilia is absolutely wrong (and I agree). Yet sexual morality also evolves over time, in complex ways: hence our confusion about these artworks. And sexual morality evolves quickly.

No one knows this better than Harriet Harman, who was a legal officer for the National Council for Civil Liberties in the 1970s, when they believed in the legalisation of paedophile sex. I can't imagine her going near a group which evangelised such a position today.

So how can we be sure that our sexual morality won't evolve again? If anything, history tells us that it will change, and not in directions we expect - we may decide that homosexuality is wrong after all; we may decide that pederasty is excellent, like the Ancient Greeks; we may prohibit fornication, or prostitution, or make pornography compulsory.

source: Article 'Why is it OK for us to enjoy Caravaggio's paedophile art?' by Sean Thomas (novelist, journalist and travel writer); blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/seanthomas/100224127/why-is-it-ok-for-us-to-enjoy-caravaggios-paedophile-art/; Telegrapgh Blogs; 1 July 2013