the lack of a systematic approach is somewhat understandable. philosophers have for years probed the intricacies of paternalism — in which the state or individuals interfere (like a parent) with the free will of another person, to help them.
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the trend in canada, especially b.c., has been to a non-paternalistic approach. but recently the tide is shifting a bit more to paternalism, partly as a result of high-profile stranger assaults and other crimes related to addictions and mental illnesses.
still, contradictions abound. governments’ campaigns to avoid stigmatizing street drug users this year collided philosophically with a paternalistic counter-trend. it was led by ottawa health officials who strongly recommended no amount of another drug, alcohol, is safe. paternalistically, they pronounced no one should consume more than two standard drinks a week, albeit without making it law.
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should mentally ill people, including those addicted to drugs, be subjected to “involuntary treatment” because they are demonstrably incompetent in regard to their own self-interest? and do large mental-health institutions deny someone’s full humanity ?
is it paternalistic to remind someone that being obese is harmful to their health? and should we intervene when parents’ habits are fostering obesity in their children? many argue you can’t say anything because that is “fat-shaming.” it’s a dilemma worth figuring out.
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a poll by the association for canadian studies found, while the majority don’t identify their pronouns, 14 per cent think doing so should be compulsory . most are under age 35, a cohort that normally opposes policing the morality of others.
but that goes against another progressive cause, which is to ally with indigenous people who say no one has the right to identify themselves as indigenous if they don’t have sufficient indigenous “blood quantum.” right or wrong, this paternalistic position goes against allowing individuals to express their identity.
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does society have the right to tell women and men they cannot make money selling their bodies for sex ? a paternalistic person could generally say yes — because that protects the dignity of the person and society.