A trust-based argument against paternalism

In Pekka Makela & Cynthia Townley (eds.), Trust: Analytic and Applied Persectives. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Rodopi. pp. 53-75 (2013)
  Copy   BIBTEX

Abstract

This essay addresses the role of trust in political philosophy. In particular, it examines the idea that trust is necessary for a particular type of government action — paternalistic action — to be justified. Liberal theory and liberal democratic practice are characterized by a large degree of anti-paternalism, understanding paternalism to be the restriction of individual liberty for a person’s good, instead of to protect or benefit others. It would be a mistake to think that liberal democracies have no paternalism; seatbelt, motorcycle helmet, and drug prohibition laws, for example, are probably at least partly motivated by paternalistic reasons. But it is easy to imagine more pervasive paternalism. Society could, and does in some cultures, restrict people’s choices of occupation, marriage partners, and where to live, with the rationale that these restrictions are for people’s good. Many people believe that the liberal position is the correct one, that more pervasive paternalism would be unjustified, but what is the philosophical justification for anti-paternalism?

Links

PhilArchive



    Upload a copy of this work     Papers currently archived: 91,475

External links

  • This entry has no external links. Add one.
Setup an account with your affiliations in order to access resources via your University's proxy server

Through your library

Similar books and articles

Paternalism.Kalle Grill - 2011 - In Ruth Chadwick (ed.), Encyclopedia of Applied Ethics. Academic Press.
Paternalism in the neonatal intensive care unit.Carson Strong - 1984 - Theoretical Medicine and Bioethics 5 (1).
A definition of paternalism.Simon Clarke - 2002 - Critical Review of International Social and Political Philosophy 5 (1):81-91.
The normative core of paternalism.Kalle Grill - 2007 - Res Publica 13 (4):441-458.

Analytics

Added to PP
2009-01-28

Downloads
132 (#137,740)

6 months
1 (#1,479,630)

Historical graph of downloads
How can I increase my downloads?

Author's Profile

Simon R. Clarke
Asian University for Women

Citations of this work

No citations found.

Add more citations

References found in this work

No references found.

Add more references