When you think about it, you could make an argument that it's not. Animals aren't people after all. We have no problem slaughtering them for food or performing science experiments on them. We use their skins for clothing. We keep them as pets. What do you guys think? Is there an argument that while it's certainly disgusting, it may not actually be immoral?
No i dont think its inherently immoral. But i do not agree with your post at all. I would say that we do have a problem slaughtering animals for food and for scientific experimentation, just because it is in fact done, doesnt make it suddenly without moral importance. People who claim it isnt morally relevant are basically wrong, and are often in denial of acknowledging the quality of life of the animal thats at stake.
Your distinction that they (animals) 'are not human after all' conveys to me a view of human superiority, a speciesism that is illegitimate. Its something i see pushed by certain cultures and religions which is a shame. Its completely unfounded to make a claim that because a creature is of a different species than yourself that they automatically posesss no attributes in similar, or that purely because of the difference in species, that any qualities of theirs is not worth considering. For example torturing another human being isnt wrong because its a human being, its wrong because that creature feels pain and can suffer. He/she just happens to be a human. That is why the torture of a monkey for example is also equally as wrong, because their conscious experience of pain and fear is likely just as real as the human beings. Empathy and reason should clearly show you right from wrong based on how your actions likely affect others sentient beings who show various characteristics like an ability to feel pain and pleasure.
Back to bestiality, i dont think the textbook definition is fundamentally immoral. A thought exercise might be, imagine an alien race arrives at Earth, and begin living on this planet with us. Now imagine that this race is like the classic scifi aliens that are green or blue, but are very attractive, essentially looking like humans in almost all respects. (Perhaps think of Avatar as an example). Now to have an attraction and to have an intimate encounter seems fairly innocent here, and the simple fact that they are 'non human creatures' bears very little moral weight.
Coming back to reality, it is an oddity that a human might be attracted to non human animals that are very different, and maybe that is objectively problematic or pathological, but its not immoral in my book.
It is if the animal is essentially being raped and is in distress. Because thats demonstrative of what i consider to be at the heart of immoral behaviour, which is the neglect to consider the mental life of the creature who is being affected by your actions.
