Test 4 Flashcards
People making decisions for other people.
Paternalism
Reasons to question steroid use.
Harmful to athletes health Use is coercive It is unfair, cheating Violates the norms or ideals of sport Use cheapens the test
Paternalism restricts liberty.
“that the only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilized community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others. His own good, either physical or moral, is not a sufficient warrant.”
If we’re free to judge what risks are worth taking shouldn’t athletes have that same freedom?
J.S. Mill’s Harm Principle
Even Mill admitted it has limits.
Children are excluded for instance.
As are those who are misinformed or coerced.
So can we safely say that athletes are making in informed and free decision?
Weaknesses of Harm Principle (Paternalism)
“May factor into the ultimate case against steroid use, but cannot bear the whole weight of the argument”
Paternalism
Free choice? Not in pro sports for sure. The athlete’s livelihood may ride on competing at the highest level.
To keep up in terms of competition.
“Athletes who would prefer not to become users may believe that unless they take the drugs they will not be able to compete…”
Coercion
“Athletes who use steroids have no right to put other athletes in the position of either damaging their health or competing under a significant disadvantage.”
Steroids an Unfair Choice
Many intuit that steroid use is cheating (unfair) because it makes sense only from a self-centered rather than universal point of view.
Similar to Singer and the Prisoner’s Dilemma.
Making an Exception of Oneself
An unfair choice: use and risk or fail to compete.
The rational universal rule seems to be non use.
Use begins to transform people into tools of sport (more so than diets, training, etc.).
Use will cause harm to others by promoting use by those uniformed or under the age of consent.
Use cheapens the test, by making it too easy.
Reasons to Support of Ban of Steroids
Benefits of Gene Therapy
Cure genetic diseases
Personalize treatment to fit unique genetic profile
Different eras are incommensurate.
Pitchers also used.
Steroids are not magic; doped athletes need immense skill.
Yes to Steroid Records
Massive surge in home runs proves the effect of steroids.
Rules prohibit drug use without prescription; steroid use requires prescription, therefore the players cheated.
No to Steroid Records
If everybody uses steroids.
Little Advantage, Great Potential for Harm
If nobody uses.
Little Advantage, No Health Risks
Reasonable conclusions should be supported, and the majority even without a perfect argument are wary of steroids.
Prohibitions of Steroids are Justified
Harms of Gene Therapy
Cloning
Genetic engineering
Turns humans into “means” not “ends in themselves”
Turns humans into “means” not “ends in themselves” (we’re useful to others and their definitions of “good attributes”).
Could resurrect/further eugenics; the desire to weed out “defective” attributes and persons (handicapped, etc.)
Dangers of Gene Therapy
Two types of genetic alteration
Somatic
Germline
Altering an individual flaw; usually in an adult.
Could be done therapeutically or as enhancement.
Would not affect reproductive cells (would be limited to that individual).
Somatic
