Historique
Périodique
The moral relevance of addiction
(L'intérêt moral de l'addiction)
Auteur(s) :
HUSAK, D. N.
Année
2004
Page(s) :
399-436
Langue(s) :
Anglais
Refs biblio. :
80
Domaine :
Plusieurs produits / Several products
Note générale :
Substance Use and Misuse, 2004, 39, (3), 399-436
Résumé :
ENGLISH :
I attempt to understand and assess the widespread belief that addiction is relevant to morality. I examine several accounts of how addiction might be significant from a moral point of view. Although I briefly discuss theories of virtue, I focus on three possible ways addiction might be relevant to moral blame. First, blame might be imposed for the act of using addictive drugs. Second, blame might be imposed for the condition of being addicted. Third, blame might be imposed for further risks persons are likely to undertake once they have become addicts. I conclude that each of these accounts has some plausibility, but none is entirely unproblematic. Addiction probably is relevant to morality, although its degree of importance is not as great as some commentators appear to believe. The moral relevance of addiction does not appear to rise to whatever level would justify a punitive response to addictive drug users. (Review' s abstract)
Affiliation :
Department of Philosophy, Rutgers University, 26 Nichol Ave., New Brunswick, NJ 08901-1411. E-mail : husakrci.rutgers.edu
Etats-Unis. United States.
Etats-Unis. United States.