PHL281H1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: John Stuart Mill, Decision-Making, Paternalism
Document Summary
Js mill on liberty (cid:862)[t]he o(cid:374)l(cid:455) purpose for (cid:449)hi(cid:272)h po(cid:449)er (cid:272)a(cid:374) (cid:271)e rightfull(cid:455) e(cid:454)er(cid:272)ised o(cid:448)er a(cid:374)(cid:455) (cid:373)e(cid:373)(cid:271)er of a (cid:272)i(cid:448)ilized community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others. In the part which merely concerns himself, his independence is, of right, absolute. Over himself, over his own body and mind, the individual is so(cid:448)ereig(cid:374). (cid:863) Paternalism: to restrict/interfere with a person"s liberty or autonomy for what is perceived to be a persons own good: may be appropriate to limit childrens freedom for own good, adults shouldn"t be treated this way. Legal paternalism: a law that forbids patients from ending their own lives, even if they feel it is best for them. Professional paternalism: nurse ordering patient to take medication, physician doesn"t tell patient full extent of bad prognosis. Private paternalism: a woman gets ailing husband to take pills saying they are vitamins, parents browbeat teen into treating his adhd.
