Asking — and answering — life's interesting questions
A question from reader Meagan:
Some drugs, like alcohol, are legal and regulated. Most states allow the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes, and some even allow it for recreational use. Others can be proscribed by a doctor and are strictly controlled. Still others are outlawed completely.
What would happen if all drugs were made legal? What would the ramifications and consequences be?
When it comes to telling the truth, we are all on a spectrum. Some people lie easily and often, other people lie only infrequently.
But, I would maintain, we all lie sometime. So, by extension, there are times when lying is acceptable or even preferred. So what are those times? When is a lie justified?
Related questions: What would happen if people were completely honest? How can we recognize dishonesty? How can we be more honest?
People have been playing games of one sort or another since the beginning of the species. As our technology advances, one of the first things that we do with that technology is to figure out new ways of adapting in order to play more games. The video gaming industry makes more money than the movie industry.
What is it about games – simple or complex – that appeals to us so? Why do people like games?
Related questions: Why do people like what they like? Do video games make us more or less violent? How are board games and card games like (and different from) video games?
In pre-flight instructions, you are always advised, in the case of emergency, to take care of yourself before assisting others. This makes sense, because you won’t be able to help another if you yourself are in jeopardy.
This reasoning could be extended, however, to never actually helping anyone other than yourself. That doesn’t seem right. Helping others can end up helping you — a rising tide lifts all boats, as the saying goes.
Related: Listen to an episode of the Intellectual Roundtable Podcast, where Lee and Michael discuss this question: ‘What are our responsibilities to others?’ We also discuss another question as well, ‘Are we too busy?’
A balance between yourself and others needs to be found. Hence the question: What are our responsibilities to others?
Related questions: What is the best way to help others? What is the best way to help yourself?