Overview
1. Discuss the harm principle (HP) and legal paternalism (LP). Be sure to define both positions and explain the differences between them. 2. Give an example of a law where HP and LP give different verdicts about its legitimacy. 3. Use the example from #2, along with the material we’ve covered in reading and lecture, to argue for a position about which principle (HP or LP) determines the legitimacy of laws. There are really four possible positions you can take in answering #3. a. First, you might argue that HP determines the legitimacy of laws but LP doesn’t; b. Second, you might argue that LP determines the legitimacy of laws but HP doesn’t; c. Third, you might argue that neither HP nor LP determine the legitimacy of laws; d. And fourth, you might argue that both HP and LP determine the legitimacy of laws. 4. Address the best objection you can come up with to the arguments you give in answering #3.