PHIL202 Lecture Notes - Lecture 15: Homo Economicus, Free Climbing, The Strongest
24 Jan 2017
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Paternalism: interference with a persons" freedoms of action for the persons own good. Many interferences with freedom of action might be justified by non-paternalistic including: harm to others, cost to the public. Legal paternalism: interference on the part of the government with a person"s freedom of action of the persons own good: this includes law criminalizing certain actions or policies designed to make certain actions difficult or impossible (self-protection). Example: forcing a rule for people who ride a bike to wear a helmet. Pure paternalism: where the person whose freedom is restricted will be the one who is protected for his own good: example: seat belts ant-suicide laws. Impure paternalism: where the person whose freedom is restricted isn"t being protected for his own good: example: prevention from smoking however it prevents farmers from growing and companies from selling. Roughly, the only the justification that the state has in restricting your freedom is to protect others from harm.
