Psychology Dictionary of Arguments

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Paternalism: Paternalism is the interference of the state or an individual with another person's liberty or autonomy, against their will, with the intention of promoting their own good or averting harm. See also Interventions, State, Power, Society.
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Annotation: The above characterizations of concepts are neither definitions nor exhausting presentations of problems related to them. Instead, they are intended to give a short introduction to the contributions below. – Lexicon of Arguments.

 
Author Concept Summary/Quotes Sources

John Rawls on Paternalism - Dictionary of Arguments

I 208
Paternalism/generational justice/Rawls: since the members of society have an interest in securing equal liberties for their descendants, there is no conflict over the choice of the principle of equal freedoms. For example, a son could not argue that the father neglected his interests if he accepted the principle of equal freedoms. The father would have to argue to the detriment of others if they departed from it that these other benefits would arise when they grow up.
I 208
The parties therefore assume that their descendants want their freedoms to be preserved.
Paternalism/Rawls: the principle of paternalism is a guideline when it comes to making decisions for others. We must do this because we have reason to believe that they would choose this themselves if they were adults and rational.
Problem: the elderly do not know about the fate of their offspring than they themselves know in the initial situation of a society to be established. Therefore, they must be based on the theory of primary goods (see Social Goods/Rawls
). Solution: to demand equal rights of freedom for the later ones will be least irrational.
Cf. >Generational Justice.
I 248
Paternalism/Care/Rawls: must be discussed as a restriction of freedom.
In the initial situation of a society to be established, everyone initially assumes an equal distribution of skills and rationality. Later, however, they take into account that these are sometimes unevenly developed,...
I 249
...as in the case of children or people damaged by fate. It can happen that people agree that others act on their behalf(1).
>Society/Rawls.
Rawls: The principles of paternalism would therefore be those chosen by the persons in the initial situation of a society to be established, in order to protect themselves against restrictions on their own rationality in society. Paternalistic decisions on behalf of a person shall be taken in such a way that the decisions previously made by that person are first taken into account, unless they are irrational.
If these are absent, the theory of primary public goods is to be assumed.
>Public Goods/Rawls.
The less we know of a person to be looked after, the more we act for them as we would act on our own behalf, from the point of view of the initial situation. We must be able to justify our actions by the fact that the person, if he or she has regained his or her rationality, agrees with us.
>Veil of ignorance.
Problem: the (fictitious) consent of the other person is not sufficient: e.g.: Assuming that the divergent religious views of two persons in full possession of their mental powers are exchanged by a psychological process against their will.
I 250
After a while, both of them will accept their new settings. Problem: we are nevertheless not entitled to treat them accordingly! Paternalistic intervention is only justified if: 1. the person to be cared for is obviously limited in his or her intellectual abilities and will, 2. the intervention must start from longer-term known desires of the person as well as apply the principles of justice and the primary public goods (e. g. freedom).
Paternalistic principles protect us against our own irrationality. Educational methods must also respect these principles.
>Principles/Rawls.

1. See Gerald Dworkin, "Paternalism" in: Morality and the Law, ed. R. A. Water flow, Belmont, 1971, pp. 107-126.

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Explanation of symbols: Roman numerals indicate the source, arabic numerals indicate the page number. The corresponding books are indicated on the right hand side. ((s)…): Comment by the sender of the contribution. Translations: Dictionary of Arguments
The note [Concept/Author], [Author1]Vs[Author2] or [Author]Vs[term] resp. "problem:"/"solution:", "old:"/"new:" and "thesis:" is an addition from the Dictionary of Arguments. If a German edition is specified, the page numbers refer to this edition.

Rawl I
J. Rawls
A Theory of Justice: Original Edition Oxford 2005


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