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    Carmelics

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    LoyalLoyalJusticeJustice
    Made withinDC&Austin
    Statements
    321,452
    Perspectives
    108,905
    Topics
    42
    Home/Original/inverse
    See Original
    Inverse View

    It is not the case that John Stuart Mill's harm principle holds that an individual's sovereignty over their own body and mind is absolute against paternalistic interference.

    ?Set your confidence on the premises below to see your aggregate.

    Reasons For

    1 perspective
    Reason for
    ?
    • 1.People often lack capacity for rational decision-making due to addiction, cognitive bias, depression, or inadequate information.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.Absolute sovereignty ignores how individual choices create externalities affecting public health systems, families, and social costs.
      ?

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    • 3.Mill's harm principle itself permits paternalism when choices prevent future autonomy—but this exception undermines the 'absolute' claim.
      ?

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    Reasons Against

    1 perspective
    Reason against
    ?
    • 1.Individuals possess unique knowledge of their own interests that external authorities cannot access or evaluate as reliably.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.Paternalistic restrictions set dangerous precedents, enabling government to justify expanding control over ever more personal decisions.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 3.Respecting autonomy even for bad choices affirms human dignity better than substituting others' judgment for one's own.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

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