Recreational drugs and paternalism

Question 1

Paternalist argument

Answer 1

• M: state should discourage an individual from acting in ways that are harmful to themself
• E: recreational drug use harms drug users
• C: state should discourage an individual from using drugs recreationally

Question 2

Paternalism

Answer 2

The interference of a state or an individual with another person, against their will, and defended or motivated by a claim that the person interfered with will be better off or protected from harm.

Question 3

Three anti-paternalist arguments

Answer 3

1. Freedom as autonomy: making an action illegal places an obstacle in front of an individual, and so this can reduce their freedom
2. Disrespect: the state treats individual’s as if they lack the capacity to set and pursue their own plans in life
3. Better judge op interests: an individual is likely to be a better judge than the state of what’s in their interests, but also of how to serve and protect those interests

Question 4

Three Pro-paternalist arguments

Answer 4

1. Misinformed choices: about the options available to them, as well as the consequences of each of those options. Drug users often fail to appreciate the likelihood of addiction, the severity of the burdens that this might generate, and the health risks involved with using various drugs.
2. Second order preferences: Those who’re addicted will act in ways that fail to serve their own preferences. they have a preference not to satisfy their preference to use drugs.
3. Reasoning failures: Drug addiction not only frustrates a user’s second-order preferences, but also strips the user of the capacity of autonomy.

Question 5

Overdose argument

Answer 5

• M: state should discourage an individual from acting in ways that seriously endanger their life
• E: recreational drug use seriously endagers the lives of drug users
• C: the state should discourage an individual from using drugs recreationally

Question 6

Misinformed choices argument

Answer 6

• M: state should intervene in an individual’s life for their own good when they’re misinformed about their options
• E: many individuals are misinformed about the consequences of recreational drug use
• C: state should discourage an individual from using drugs recreationally
• AC: the state should ensure that individuals are well informed about drug use

Question 7

Two varieties of paternalism

Answer 7

1. Soft paternalism: Intervening in an individual’s life when they lack sufficient information to make informed decisions
2. Hard paternalism: can interfere even when an individual is informed and acting voluntarily

Question 8

Bad choices argument

Answer 8

• M: state should discourage an individual from acting in ways that seriously frustrate their second-order preferences
• E: recreational drug use seriously frustrates users’ second-order preferences
  C: te state should discourage an individual from using drugs recreationally

Question 9

Reasoning failures (Paternalism)

Answer 9

1. Limited technical ability
   - Framing
   - Anchoring: individuals rely too heavily on the first piece of information when making decisions or judgements.
2. Limited imagination/experience
   - Status quo bias: people tend to prefer things to stay relatively the same or remain as they are. Individuals may resist change.
3. Limited objectivity
   - Confirmation bias: people tend to search for, interpret, favor, and recall information in a way that confirms or supports their preexisting beliefs or hypotheses, while ignoring or downplaying contradictory evidence.
   - Unrealistic optimism: individuals believe that they are less likely to experience negative events and more likely to experience positive events compared to others.
4. Limited will power

Question 10

Paternalistic measures

Answer 10

1. Legal restrictions
2. Taxation/negative financial incentives
3. Subsidy/positive financial incentive
4. Nudging

Question 11

Nudging

Answer 11

Any aspect of the choice architecture that alters people’s behavior in a predictable way without forbidding any option or significantly changing their economic incentives

1. Libertarian: it does not block people’s choices and thus respects people’s liberties.
2. Paternalistic: it makes people better off and thus improves their well being (health, wealth and happiness).