Suchergebnisse

Alienation, as that concept is handed down in the Marxist tradition, consists in part of lack of autonomy. Some feminists have urged greater autonomy for women, while others have attacked the ideal of autonomy. One can see that both views have much in their favor from a careful reading of Virginia Woolf's To the Lighthouse (New York 1927). The resulting dilemma is resolved by (1) uncovering the concept of persons underlying traditional notions of autonomy -- the concept of persons as separate from one another; & (2) reframing the concept of persons as "being-in-relation." This yields more acceptable concepts of autonomy & of alienation. AA

Considers the alleged incompatibility between individual autonomy and the achievement and subsequent maintenance of an egalitarian society. Argues that it is only where an egalitarian society is in place that a like autonomy can be exercised by each citizen. Discusses the 3 main grounds that have been advanced to show there is such an incompatibility. (Abstract amended)

Most philosophical analyses of paternalism agree in finding paternalism strongly objectionable, while having given up the search for a utilitarian argument against it. The concept of moral autonomy is often invoked as a basis of objecting to paternalism, but no conclusive demonstration of this has been presented. Attempts to show that moral autonomy provides a basis for limiting paternalism have failed. Various formulations of the autonomy principle are reviewed & shown not to imply rejection of paternalism. Further, paternalism does not necessarily violate the personal dignity implied by moral autonomy. While these arguments do not equal a defense of paternalism, they do suggest a need to deal with particular cases rather than with seeking a general argument for or against paternalism. W. H. Stoddard.