Respectful Paternalism

TY - JOUR

T1 - Respectful Paternalism

AU - Pedersen, Viki Møller Lyngby

PY - 2021/8

Y1 - 2021/8

N2 - A common objection to paternalism concerns its expressive content. Many reject paternalistic policies and actions on the ground that they arguably involve insulting expressions of disrespect toward those subjected to them. The paper challenges this view. It argues that refraining from acting paternalistically can be disrespectful. Specifically, the paper argues that there is a relevant way in which A disregards the moral worth of B if A stands idly by when B is about to act very imprudently. If true, treating others with equal respect and concern, as relational egalitarians and others rightly ask us to do, will somewhat surprisingly sometimes involve treating them paternalistically.

AB - A common objection to paternalism concerns its expressive content. Many reject paternalistic policies and actions on the ground that they arguably involve insulting expressions of disrespect toward those subjected to them. The paper challenges this view. It argues that refraining from acting paternalistically can be disrespectful. Specifically, the paper argues that there is a relevant way in which A disregards the moral worth of B if A stands idly by when B is about to act very imprudently. If true, treating others with equal respect and concern, as relational egalitarians and others rightly ask us to do, will somewhat surprisingly sometimes involve treating them paternalistically.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85104104789&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1007/s10982-021-09407-9

DO - 10.1007/s10982-021-09407-9

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0167-5249

VL - 40

SP - 419

EP - 442

JO - Law and Philosophy

JF - Law and Philosophy

IS - 4

ER -