CAS PH 150 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Modus Tollens, Caffeine

• School: Boston University
• Department: Philosophy
• Course: CAS PH 150
• Professor: Suzanne Sreedhar

Document Summary

Not only has prohibition failed, but it caused more harm. Cost of the war on drugs was greater than the cost of drug use itself. Argues that getting to choose what goes into your body is one of the most basic rights. If we should ban cocaine, heroin, etc. , then we should ban alcohol, tobacco, and caffeine. We should not ban alcohol, tobacco, or caffeine. Therefore, we should not ban heroin, cocaine, etc. Decriminalization: personal use is fine, but selling/manufacturing in large quantities is still illegal. The violence/corruption associated with it would also end. Overdose rates would remain the same because there would be more addicts. Police training could negate the violence associated with the black market. De marneffe argues that decriminalization wouldn"t violate individual rights. You can use/try drugs if you want to as long as you can access them (grow yourself or have a friend to share)