What Is Paternalism?

Dworkin Gerald Dworkin’s work focused around paternalism. Paternalism is the practice of people in power limiting the freedom of those who are subordinate to them in their “interest”. His specific focus on paternalism followed the model of Mill’s Harm Principle. Mill’s Harm Principle states that the only reason that one is able to limit another’s liberty of action is if it is for self-protection. The harm principle also states that the only way power can be exercised over another person is to prevent harm to others. Although his work pertained to Mill’s Harm Principle, throughout he accepted two primary claims. The first claim states that a person’s freedom can be restricted in order to prevent the harm of others. The second claim states that a person’s freedom can never be restricted for his or her own good. Even though Dworkin accepted these two terms from Mill, the one that Dworkin chose to focus on is that paternalism is never justified. This claim that Dworkin emphasized helped shape his definition of paternalism. Related to Dworkin’s definition, the Oxford dictionary definition of paternalism is the practice of people …show more content…
Furthering his ideas, instead of focusing on all of the claims made by Mill’s Harm Principle, Dworkin decided to specify the fact that paternalism is never justified via the good it may do for an individual. Dworkin used two strategies in order to acknowledge ways in which paternalism may be justified otherwise. The first strategy he demonstrated by focusing on instances in which paternalism is justified. The second strategy he demonstrated by defining the circumstances in which paternalism seemed to be justified. It was through these strategies that Dworkin comes up with the example of Odysseus and the Mast, effectively illustrating both of his semi-juxtaposing statements. Paternalism therefore according to Dworkin is justified, but only in very limited