Paternalism：Theory and Practice

Isitallowableforyourgovernment,oranyoneelse,toinfluenceorcoerceyou'foryourownsake'?Thisisaquestionaboutpaternalism,orinterferencewithaperson'slibertyorautonomywiththeintentionofpromotingtheirgoodoravertingharm,whichhascreatedconsiderablecontroversyatleastsinceJohnStuartMill'sOnLiberty.Millfamouslydecriedpaternalismofanykind,whethercarriedoutbyprivateindividualsorthestate.Inthisvolumeofnewessays,leadingmoral,politicalandlegalphilosophersaddresshowtodefinepaternalism,itsjustification,andtheimplicationsforpublicpolicy,professionalethicsandcriminallaw.So-called'libertarian'ornon-coercivepaternalismreceivesconsiderableattention.Thediscussionaddressesthenatureoffreedomandautonomyandtherelationofindividualstolaw,policyandthestate.Thevolumewillinterestawiderangeofreadersinpoliticalphilosophy,publicpolicyandthephilosophyoflaw.