Cass R. Sunstein (Harvard Law School; Harvard University – Harvard Kennedy School (HKS)) has posted Paternalism and Autonomy on SSRN. Here is the abstract:
Some of the most intuitive and deeply held objections to paternalism point to autonomy. A central claim is that paternalism is objectionable even if it improves people’s lives, because it does not treat people as adults or with respect. To know whether paternalism violates autonomy, we need to specify what kind of paternalism is involved; identify the right conception of autonomy; and understand how and why paternalism works. Coercive paternalism tends to violate autonomy as it is standardly conceived. Libertarian paternalism does not violate autonomy as it is often conceived, but certain forms of libertarian paternalism do violate some intelligible conceptions of autonomy. The question is whether those conceptions should operate as (1) trump cards, (2) cautionary notes, or (3) intelligible understandings of autonomy that do not have a great deal of normative force. In the end, (3) is probably correct.
Highly Recommended!