Drugs and Drinking

 Prompts: 1. De Marneffe is quick to point out that drug prohibition has costs. What are they? Why, in his view, do the benefits outweigh the costs? Do you agree? Why or why not? 2. Some say that legalizing drugs like heroin will not lead to increases in their use or abuse. De Marneffe disagrees. Explain the reasoning on both sides of the issue. Which side do you favor? What about that view makes it more plausible? 3. Machan favors legalizing illicit drugs partly because he thinks individuals should be free to make their own choices when it won’t harm others. How do you think Machan would reply to someone claiming that those who abuse hard drugs often harm people who are close to them? How serious of an objection is this? Why? 4. Machan asks the following rhetorical question: “How is the fabric of society strengthened when we rely on guns and prisons to enforce behavior rather than letting behavior be determined by individual responsibility and family upbringing?” Plainly, Machan thinks that the fabric of society isn’t strengthened this way. However, it’s also plain that some individuals are not at all responsible, and that some families are entirely dysfunctional. Given those facts, what should be made of Machan’s claim? 5. People are very good at downplaying the costs of their drinking. People are also very good at downplaying the costs of other behavior – for example, lying, cheating, texting and driving, and so on. Do people use the same strategies in both cases? If so, how do those strategies apply to one of the examples just mentioned? If not, then what strategies do people use when it comes to these behaviors? 6. What behavior – if any – can we blame on alcohol? Some people seem comfortable excusing sexual behavior on alcohol, but most people don’t want to excuse drunk driving on the same basis. Can these two thoughts be reconciled? Either way, how much are we responsible for when drunk? 7. Take the side of national organizations. How would you argue that they aren’t morally (not legally) liable for what happens in local chapters? How would you reply to objections to your argument? 8. Pledges choose to pledge. Assuming that they aren’t physically coerced – that is, people aren’t holding guns to their heads – does their decision to pledge mean that they’re responsible for whatever happens to them? Why or why not