Ethics Quiz #5

Question 1

Philosopher’s View:
David Boaz

Answer 1

drugs SHOULD be legalized so that people can take responsibility & to end govt. intrusion

Question 2

Philosopher’s View:
Peter DeMarneffe

Answer 2

drugs should be DECRIMINALIZED, not legalized for personal/non-commercial use

Question 3

Philosopher’s View:
Daniel Shapiro

Answer 3

drugs are NOT ADDICTIVE, legalization WOULD NOT cause widespread problems like prohibitionists say

Question 4

Philosopher’s View:
Theodore Dalrymple

Answer 4

legalization CANNOT be supported philosophically or pragmatically (practically)

Question 5

Reasons for David Boaz’s View

Answer 5

1) the war on drugs is pointless
2). drugs create economic opportunities for dealers
3). drug enforcement infringes on one’s right to live
4). drugs do NOT cause violence, the HIGH PRICES of drugs cause violence

Question 6

Why does Peter DeMarneffe OPPOSE legalization of drugs?

Answer 6

legalization –> more drug use & more drug abuse

Question 7

Daniel Shapiro: 3 Components of Addiction

Answer 7

1) Drug - the type of drug
2) Set - one’s values/expectations of drug
3) Setting - cultural/social aspects of drug use

Question 8

DeMarneffe: those at risk of harm from drug abuse have the strongest complaint against WHO?

Answer 8

those at risk of harm from drug abuse have the strongest complaint against DRUG MANUFACTURERS over private users

Question 9

Shapiro: reasons why social setting affects likelihood of becoming addicted

Answer 9

1) not all countries have violence linked with alcohol use
2) hospital patients who were prescribed narcotics rarely get addicted
3) Vietnam veterans stopped using heroin after the war
4) cocaine users can be functional

Question 10

Shapiro: Why do smokers find it hard to quit? What does he think smokers are actually addicted to?

Answer 10

Smoking is hard to quit because it’s integrated into people’s lives, it has mild effects, and it’s legal. Smokers are actually addicted to the activity, not the drug.

Question 11

Theodore Dalrymple’s response to the philosophical case for drug legalization

Answer 11

1) other people are affected by drugs
2) people cannot always do whatever they want/no distinction between important/unimportant
3) taking drugs reduces freedom by limiting interests

Question 12

How does Dalrymple respond to the claim: “The war on drugs is a lost war, so we should legalize/regulate drugs”?

Answer 12

nobody is fighting to make murder, rape, war, etc legal (just because it still happens) regardless of if it is legal or not

Question 13

How does Dalrymple respond to the claim: “Legalizing drugs would reduce crime and alleviate prison overcrowding”?

Answer 13

legalization does not change the mindsets of drug criminals

Question 14

How does Dalrymple respond to the claim: “Legalizing drugs would reduce government involvement in our private lives”?

Answer 14

legalization would lead to increased govt. intrusion in our lives