Paternalism

Paternalism is a mode of governance or policy in which authorities limit or direct the freedom of individuals for their own welfare. It is frequently contrasted with respect for autonomy, liberty, and voluntary choice. The term derives from the paternal authority of a father over his household, and today is used in philosophy, medicine, law, and political theory to describe actions that treat adults as if they cannot or should not make their own decisions.

Paternalism is commonly divided into hard paternalism, which interferes with a person’s choice even when they are capable of making that choice, and soft paternalism, which aims to influence choices while preserving the option to act otherwise. A related idea is libertarian or liberal paternalism, which seeks to steer people toward better options while restricting only minimal liberty and preserving genuine freedom of choice.

Justifications include protecting individuals from self-harm, correcting cognitive biases, preventing irreversible harms, or safeguarding dependents. In public policy, paternalistic measures are common in health, safety, and welfare domains, such as seatbelt laws, age-based restrictions, and vaccination requirements.

Critiques focus on violation of autonomy, potential paternalistic overreach, disrespect for individual judgment, and questions about who decides what counts as “good” for another. Critics argue that consent, transparency, and least-restrictive alternatives should be prioritized, and that paternalism can be used to justify domination or discrimination.

In philosophy, debates center on the balance between beneficence and autonomy, the reliability of individuals’ judgments, and the legitimacy of state or institutionally imposed standards. Distinctions drawn include coercive versus persuasive, and whether paternalistic measures are justified by rights-protecting or welfare-enhancing aims.