1.What is a drug ? 2.Do you think that Jeremy Bentham’s conception of people bei

1.What is a drug ?
2.Do you think that Jeremy Bentham’s conception of people being ruled by ‘two masters,’ pain and pleasure, is enough to explain why people use drugs?  Why or why not? (explaining drug behavior)
3.Acupuncture is an ancient form of treating disease via needles. In China, acupuncture is a way of fixing illness by manipulating ‘chi’ (or ‘qi’) energy: vital energy, or the ‘life force.’ Chi energy is related to the centuries old Taoist philosophy: that the universe was originally created out of chaos, but split into two opposing forces: yin, and yang; elemental forces such as light/dark, male/female, present in all things and mutually dependent upon one another.  In the Chinese system of health, the challenge is in maintaining the balance between yin and yang, thereby preventing illness.
No one understands how chi energy works, and the ways by which the Chinese go about manipulating Chi energy bears no resemblance to nerve charts such as we have in the West.  The Chinese method of healing involves, therefore, a different geography of the body than Westerners are accustomed to.
That said, acupuncture has also become a popular alternative therapy here in the West, and acupuncture is even covered under some health insurance plans. 
But do you think that it is necessary to understand the underlying philosophy of Chinese medicine for acupuncture to ‘work’? 
Please watch the documentary The Mystery of Chi, by Bill Moyers.
How do you see ‘set’ and ‘setting’ playing a part in the success of such a therapy? 
Have you, or someone you know, ever explored an alternative health therapy — and do you think that mindset had an important role to play in the success of the treatment?
4.Do you believe that Weil’s contention in The Natural Mind  by Andrew Weil– that is is ‘natural’ for us to want to alter our consciousness — is true or not?  Please elaborate on your response, utilizing material from Weil to support your argument.  (Please respond to this question after you have read the first few chapters in Weil’s book!)