| Of course Smokers' should have rights. | | | | years in most western countries. |
| | | | |
| They are entitled to the same rights as | | | | Why has it changed? |
| everybody else. | | | | |
| | | | There is now overwhelming evidence of the |
| I think this whole question of rights for | | | | dangers associated with smoking and the use |
| smokers and others comes down to ethical | | | | of tobacco products. |
| considerations. | | | | |
| | | | Those dangers apply not just to the users of |
| Ethics is all about doing what is right. | | | | the product, but also to all who come into |
| | | | contact with the toxic fumes of burning |
| I think it was the Greek philosopher | | | | tobacco. |
| Aristotle who stated something like that. | | | | |
| | | | So, exposing others to these risks is no |
| And what is doing what is right? | | | | longer socially acceptable. And, smoking in |
| | | | the vicinity of others is certainly not |
| Well this really comes down to doing whatever | | | | causing least harm, so therefore is also |
| is going to cause least harm to others. | | | | unethical. |
| | | | |
| The law, our behavior in society, and | | | | Laws tend to reflect societies' values. In |
| accepted ethical considerations often go | | | | my part of the world, smoking is no longer |
| hand in hand. | | | | allowed in restaurants, pubs, clubs, and in |
| | | | most work places. |
| For example, it is against the law to damage | | | | |
| someone else's property. This is also not | | | | It is not legal, socially acceptable, or |
| socially acceptable behavior and it is | | | | ethical to go and beat up someone. |
| obviously unethical. | | | | |
| | | | Even if it is legal in some places, it |
| However, consider another scenario, such as | | | | certainly is not socially acceptable or |
| telling a lie. Now, this may or may not be | | | | ethical for smokers to breathe their |
| against the law. It is really a | | | | dangerous passive smoke anywhere where |
| consideration of the context in which the | | | | others may be adversely afffected by it. |
| lie was told. And, from the point of view of | | | | |
| our behavior in society, telling lies in | | | | I do have empathy for smokers who would |
| generally unacceptable. But, if as Aristotle | | | | prefer not to be smokers. I was in that |
| claims, that ethics is doing the least harm | | | | category myself for many years. It is |
| to others, there may well be situations | | | | difficult to stop and stay stopped. There is |
| where telling a lie may be a preferable | | | | not one effective method of stopping smoking |
| situation to being totally honest. | | | | and staying stopped that works for everybody. |
| | | | If you are a smoker who wishes to quit, you |
| Now, what has all this got to do with smokers | | | | will need to find the strategies that are |
| and their rights? | | | | right for you. There are some excellent |
| | | | resources available for you however. is one |
| Well, I shall try to explain, taking into | | | | such source, and has link that will take you |
| consideration the three factors mentioned | | | | to many others. |
| above. That is: | | | | |
| | | | But in conclusion I will reiterate what I |
| The Law Acceptable Behavior in Society, and | | | | said at the beginning of this article. |
| Ethics | | | | |
| | | | Smokers do have rights! |
| Firstly, the law regarding the use of tobacco | | | | |
| products has changed considerably in recent | | | | They have the same rights as the rest of us! |