Body modification

Body modification is the practice of altering the body for non-medical reasons. Common body modifications include piercings and tattoos. Other, less common and more extreme forms of body modification include subdermal implants, branding, scarification, or even amputation. Plastic surgery is another form of body modification.

Nature
Some critics of body modification claim that body modification is wrong because it is "unnatural". However, the claim that body modification is unnatural is dubious. On the face of it, body modification seems to be unnatural, because the natural state of the body is being altered. However, the propensity to modify the body may be natural. Some form of body modification is practices in seemingly every culture around the world. Evolutionarily, it is natural for humans to make themselves be as evolutionarily fit as possible, which includes modifying themselves to be more accepted within a group or tribe, and to make oneself more likely to attract mates. Even if characteristics caused by modification are inborn, humans may have evolved to modify their bodies, so body modification is arguably natural.

Even if one argues that it is unnatural, that still does not make it wrong. If it is wrong to go against nature, it is wrong to have modern technology. Having a tattoo is no more morally wrong than using electricity. There is no reason why we should not do things that are considered to be unnatural.

Religion
Some people are opposed to body modification on religious grounds. Leviticus 19:28 in the Bible states: You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks on you: I am the LORD.

However, as many of us realize that religion is bullshit, we can disregard religious arguments against body modification.

Freedom
Body modification should be a personal choice. If one chooses to modify their body, or alter their appearance in any way, they should have the freedom to do so. We are the owners of ourselves, so we should be able to choose what we want to do withour bodies. Not all liberals want to get body modifications themselves, but liberals should allow others to freely choose what they want to do with their lives. A fundamental tenet of liberalism is personal freedom.