What about the freedoms you value that I'd cleanse?
I am aware that smoking isn't the same as mountain climbing, it would have been redundant for me to list the same thing more than once. Each of the activities on the list is distinguishable from the others.
So by starting to smoke you could argue that your liberty is already being taken away from you to an extent and you're instead an unwilling slave to the tobacco industry.
I personally don't think so. The deleterious nature of smoking is pretty severe and leads to a lot of problems that don't just affect the individual.
Smokers are more likely to contract (and spread) tuberculosis, for example. They are more likely to die early due to one or more expensive diseases that tax the healthcare system. Also, the fact that they smoke influences other people to do so!
So, I would say, yes, cigarettes are degenerate. Society needs to grow out of such vices.
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I would gladly give up some "liberty" if we could go ahead and cleanse some of the degeneracy from my society. I don't need the "freedom" to smoke.
Also, smoking =/= mountain climbing.
What about the freedoms you value that I'd cleanse?
I am aware that smoking isn't the same as mountain climbing, it would have been redundant for me to list the same thing more than once. Each of the activities on the list is distinguishable from the others.
Fools easily give up "liberty".
Well, cigarettes are addictive after a while.
So by starting to smoke you could argue that your liberty is already being taken away from you to an extent and you're instead an unwilling slave to the tobacco industry.
Where is your "liberty" then?
Well, I don't need the freedom to smoke. So, by having that freedom "taken away", what have I lost?
I'll gladly give at least that one thing up to live in a society of healthier people.
Degeneracy is a pretty strong word here for what is a relatively minor vice, don't you think?
I personally don't think so. The deleterious nature of smoking is pretty severe and leads to a lot of problems that don't just affect the individual.
Smokers are more likely to contract (and spread) tuberculosis, for example. They are more likely to die early due to one or more expensive diseases that tax the healthcare system. Also, the fact that they smoke influences other people to do so!
So, I would say, yes, cigarettes are degenerate. Society needs to grow out of such vices.