Introducing Philosophy for Everyday Life: A Practical Guide (Introducing...) by Trevor Curnow

Author:Trevor Curnow
Language: eng
Format: mobi
ISBN: 9781848313576
Publisher: Icon Books
Published: 2012-04-04T23:00:00+00:00

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Amongst the many things that can be bought, there are several that many people think should not be bought. The reasons for these views are not always clear, and when they are clear they are not always coherent. We tend to have a lot of opinions without necessarily knowing why we have them or where they have come from. Most people now would agree that slavery is wrong, just as most people used to agree that it was right. But why is it wrong? I believe the best argument is based on the value of, and respect due to, persons (→ 6), but others might have different ideas. The same approach might be taken with regard to prostitution. If a person is treated merely as an object, simply as a means to our own ends, then that person is not being properly respected. But we often tend to think that things are wrong (or right) without having the supporting argument to back up the opinion.

There is a widely-held opinion that the buying of certain kinds of drug is wrong. In the UK, at least, the very word ‘drug’ tends to be interpreted to mean something that it is wrong to buy, even though there are all kinds of drug that most people are entirely comfortable with. Compare the normal sense attached to ‘on drugs’ to the normal sense attached to ‘on medication’! (→ 22) However, research shows that in some countries the belief that taking certain drugs is somehow wrong has sometimes only emerged after those drugs have been made illegal. It often comes as a shock to people to discover that Sigmund Freud not only took cocaine, but also recommended it. The idea that drugs should not be bought or taken because they are harmful often turns out to be a rationalisation rather than a reason. The damage done by alcohol and tobacco is often conveniently forgotten. (→ 7)

If it is wrong to buy something, then it would make sense to believe that it also wrong to sell it. However, it does not always work out that way. In some countries it is not illegal to buy certain drugs, but it is illegal to sell or possess them. In some countries prostitution may or may not be illegal depending on which side of the transaction you are on. Laws are not always rational.

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