Philosophical Question #14 – Lifestyle Choices

Here is an interesting question in my list of philosophical questions:

  • 1.) Should governments have penalties for those who live unhealthy lifestyles?

A list of unhealthy lifestyles would include things like smoking, drinking, illegal drugs, prostitution, and other “vice” type activities.

I guess the “government penalties” would be referring to monetary punishments, withholding medical treatments (insurance companies would love that), possibly imposing/regulating very high (exorbitant) prices on things considered unhealthy in order to cut down on their use, and other possibilities.

  • 2.) Or, would you say that living an unhealthy lifestyle, likely resulting in a LOT of eventual personal pain and suffering, should be punishment enough for unhealthy lifestyles?

When people make bad choices in life, often in their youth where ignorance and immediate gratification takes them over, 

  • 3.) Should a society be obligated to help "fix" them, by way of tax money?  Is that part of what taxes should be for?

For that matter, 

  • 4.) What should taxes be for? 

Lots of questions today.  Answer all or any.  Give your analysis on “bad lifestyle choices in life” and how that should be handled by the greater society.

(by PrimalSoup)

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