Given the notion that we live in an age, where we advocate the importance of sexual freedom, tolerance and social progress - what justification is there to criminally punish people who engage in incest?

While there are many arguments that support the supression of incest - I find them to be rather weak, hypocritical and intellectually dishonest. I will try to adress them one at a time.

**Incest is unnatural and disgusting, therefore it should be illegal.**

This argument fails for the sole reason of being ad hoc. I'm sure many people can tell all about how homosexuality is unnatural and disgusting - however we simply disregard and dismiss their arguments as antiquated and bigoted. 

Moral arguments therefore can't be used unless one admits hypocrisy. If we use moral arguments to supress incest, then logical and intellectual honesty dictates us to supress homosexuality as well. 

**The danger of producing deformed or damaged offspring.**

I don't see why this is an issue in a society that condones abortion and contraception. The problem, then, really isn't about sexual intercourse - it is about producing offspring. 

Secondly, the state doesn't consistently care about the welfare of unborn children anyway. Abortions are allowed and people who have hereditary diseases, the elderly and people more inclined to develop certain diseases - none of them are banned from procreation.

Thirdly, incest is a niche sexual fetish and is largely neligible. The probability for producing deformed/degenerated children is very small. 

**Slippery slope - if we allow incest, then we would indirectly be condoning polygamy, bestiality etc.**

We are already doing that by condoning homosexuality. The slippery slope is a valid argument. The very fact that we are now discussing the acceptability of homosexuality proves this. 

During the sexual revolution, when divorces and promiscuity were on the rise and being legalized - people feared all the other sexual deviances that would follow - from homosexuality to bestiality. And it is happening. 

Bringing up the slippery slope is irrelevant since we keep provoking the slippery fall even now. We either accept these logical conclusions or we admit that we have double standards in these issues.

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Having applied liberal reasoning and principles - I believe I have made a more or less valid case for the legalization of incest.