Title: Paternalism - Wikipedia
Headings: Paternalism
Paternalism
Contents
Etymology
Types
Soft and hard
Pure and impure
Moral and welfare
Criteria for effective paternalism
Opponents
In society
See also
References
External links

Content: Types
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Soft and hard
Soft paternalism is the view that paternalism is justified only if an action to be committed is involuntary. John Stuart Mill gives the example of a person about to walk across a damaged bridge. One cannot tell the person the bridge is damaged as he does not speak our language. According to soft paternalism, one would be justified in forcing him to not cross the bridge so one could find out whether he knows about the damage. If he knows and wants to jump off the bridge and commit suicide then one should allow him to. Hard paternalists say that at least sometimes one is entitled to prevent him from crossing the bridge and committing suicide. Pure and impure
Pure paternalism is paternalism where the person (s) having their liberty or autonomy taken away are those being protected. Impure paternalism occurs when the class of people whose liberty or autonomy is violated by some measure is wider than the group of persons thereby protected. Moral and welfare
Moral paternalism is where paternalism is justified to promote the moral well-being of a person (s) even if their welfare would not improve. For example, it could be argued that someone should be prevented from prostitution even if they make a decent living off it and their health is protected.