Philosophy 353
Study questions:  Bowers v. Hardwick



1.  What are the main details of this case?  What legal questions are at stake?

2.  What is the majority's decision in this case, and how does the majority defend that decision?

3.  How does the dissent in this case reject the majority's decision?  To what extent is their
       rejection plausible?  What problems might there be?

4.  Set aside for a moment the questions here of Constitutional interpretation.  To what extent
       do you think that it can be just for a government to outlaw certain activity solely on the
       grounds that it is (or a majority believes it is) morally wrong?  Try to consider a wide
       range of relevant activities in drawing your conclusions.