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Article

Relational Autonomy, Paternalism, and Maternalism

Details

Citation

Specker Sullivan L & Niker F (2018) Relational Autonomy, Paternalism, and Maternalism. Ethical Theory and Moral Practice, 21 (3), pp. 649-667. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10677-018-9900-z

Abstract
The concept of paternalism is intricately tied to the concept of autonomy. It is commonly assumed that when paternalistic interventions are wrong, they are wrong because they impede individuals¡¯ autonomy. Our aim in this paper is to show that the recent shift towards conceiving of autonomy relationally highlights a separate conceptual space for a nonpaternalistic kind of interpersonal intervention termed maternalism. We argue that maternalism makes a twofold contribution to the debate over the ethics of interpersonal action and decision-making. Descriptively, it captures common experiences that, while not unusual in everyday life, are largely absent from the present discussion. Normatively, it describes a type of intervention with justification conditions distinct from the standard framework of paternal-ism. We explicate these contributions by describing six key differences between maternalism and paternalism, and conclude by anticipating and responding to potential objections.

Keywords
autonomy; relational autonomy; paternalism; maternalism; care ethics;

Journal
Ethical Theory and Moral Practice: Volume 21, Issue 3

StatusPublished
Publication date30/06/2018
Publication date online01/06/2018
Date accepted by journal21/05/2018
URL
PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media LLC
ISSN1386-2820
eISSN1572-8447

People (1)

Dr Fay Niker

Dr Fay Niker

Lecturer, Philosophy