There is much debate on the issue of recreational drug use. Some argue it harms the user, therefore, is wrong. Others maintain that recreational drug use inspired artistic expression in some, religious awakening, and a general feeling of pleasure and positive attitude in others. Timothy Hsiao argues that recreational drug use is immoral because it impairs cognitive abilities and the state based on this fact has an obligation to enact legal restriction to safeguard that people actually exercise their freedom.
His arguments are as follows:
1. Morality is the essence of rational thinking that allows us to determine right from wrong
2. Rational thinking allows to engage in moral life and fulfill what humans were predetermined to do by their mere nature with true freedom of choice
3. Use of
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Similarly, he argues that
1. To exercise autonomy and freedom one must use reasoning and moral judgment.
2. The state has an obligation to protect the freedom and promote the autonomy of individuals.
3. Recreational drug use impairs the ability of the individual to reason and be autonomous and as a result, it hampers the state’s interest in preserving and promoting autonomy.
4. Therefore, the state has the interest to restrict recreational drug use. He refers to recreational drug use as activities done for the sake of pleasure therefore medically unnecessary and morally wrong because it prevents humans from fulfilling their primary destiny. The primary function of humans he argues is to reason in order to make moral decisions and lead a good moral life. According to Timothy Hsiao, the recreational drug use prevents humans from fulfilling their primary function to reason and make genuinely free choices without being under the influence. He maintains that drugs both produce short term and long term adverse effects on cognitive abilities. Hsiao permits an exception to use of drugs for medical purposes. He also affirms