Between Autonomy and State Regulation: J.S. Mill's Elastic Paternalism

Philosophy, Volume87, Issue04, October 2012, pp 557-582

21 Pages Posted: 4 Nov 2012

See all articles by Raphael Cohen-Almagor

Raphael Cohen-Almagor

University of Hull; Middle East Study Centre; Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars

Date Written: 2012

Abstract

This paper analyses J.S. Mill's theory on the relationships between individual autonomy and State powers. It will be argued that there is a significant discrepancy between Mill's general liberal statements aimed to secure individual largest possible autonomy and the specific examples which provide the government with quite wide latitude for interference in the public and private spheres. The paper outlines the boundaries of government interference in the Millian theory. Subsequently it describes Mill's elastic paternalism designed to prevent people from inflicting harm upon others as well as upon themselves, from soft paternalism on issues like compulsory education to hard paternalism on very private matters such as marriage, having children, and divorce by consent.

Keywords: J.S. Mill, individualism, autonomy, soft/hard/elastic paternalism, state interference, regulation

JEL Classification: B30, B31, H00, H1, H10, H11, H19, H4, H40, H41, H42, H49, I2, I20, I28, I3, I30, I31, I39, P4, P40

Suggested Citation

Cohen-Almagor, Raphael and Cohen-Almagor, Raphael, Between Autonomy and State Regulation: J.S. Mill's Elastic Paternalism (2012). Philosophy, Volume87, Issue04, October 2012, pp 557-582, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2170674

Raphael Cohen-Almagor (Contact Author)

University of Hull ( email )

Cottingham Road
Hull, Great Britain HU6 7RX
United Kingdom

HOME PAGE: http://https://www.hull.ac.uk/faculties/staff-profiles/raphael-cohen-almagor.aspx

Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars ( email )

One Woodrow Wilson Plaza
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Washington, DC 20004
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Middle East Study Centre ( email )

Cottingham Road
Hull, HU6 7RX
United Kingdom
0044-1482 465024 (Phone)
0044-1482-466208 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://hcc.haifa.ac.il/~rca

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