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'''Paternalism''' is from the Latin ''pater'' "[[father]]", from the adjective ''paternus'' "fatherly", and in general denotes an attitude, a policy, or action limiting the liberty or autonomy of a person or group, which is at least ostensibly intended to promote their own good, and can also imply that the behavior is against or regardless of the will of a person, or also that the behavior expresses an attitude of superiority, justified or unjustified.  

'''Paternalism''' is from the Latin ''pater'' "[[father]]", from the adjective ''paternus'' "fatherly", and in general denotes an attitude, a policy, or action limiting the liberty or autonomy of a person or group, which is at least ostensibly intended to promote their own good, and can also imply that the behavior is against or regardless of the will of a person, or also that the behavior expresses an attitude of superiority, justified or unjustified.  

Some [[Philosophy|philosophers]], such as [[John Stuart Mill]], think an attitude of paternalism is appropriate toward children: {{cquote|"It is, perhaps, hardly necessary to say that this doctrine is meant to apply only to human beings in the maturity of their faculties. We are not speaking of children, or of young persons below the age which the law may fix as that of manhood or womanhood."}}

Some [[Philosophy|philosophers]], such as [[John Stuart Mill]], think an attitude of paternalism is only appropriate toward children: {{cquote|It is, perhaps, hardly necessary to say that this doctrine is meant to apply only to human beings in the maturity of their faculties. We are not speaking of children, or of young persons below the age which the law may fix as that of manhood or womanhood.<ref>Mill, J.S. [1859]/(1991) "On Liberty", published in Gray, John (ed), John Stuart Mill: On Liberty and Other Essays, Oxford: Oxford University Press</ref>}}

An attitude or policy of paternalism towards adults is sometimes thought to treat them disrespectfully, even demeaning them, as if they were children. [[Sociology|Sociologists]] are divided on whether certain degrees of paternalism defend or violate [[Dignity|human dignity]]. In the [[20th century]] in the United States, [[conservative]] political theory was held to regard the general population as needing guidance, and a more centralized government, emphasizing [[Federalism]], at the time exemplified by the leaders of the [[Republican Party]], in contrast to a more [[liberal]] political theory holding that the people as a whole, innately possessed in general enough mature, informed [[common sense]], to determine for themselves what is best to fulfill the needs of the country as a whole, and of regions and states and cities, and of minorities and individual citizens in particular, in favor of a more decentralized government, emphasizing [[States Rights]] and [[Grassroots|grassroots movements]], at the time exemplified by the leaders of the [[Democratic Party]] and the [[Libertarian Party]]. Much has changed in the [[21st century]].

An attitude or policy of paternalism towards adults is sometimes thought to treat them disrespectfully, even demeaning them, as if they were children. [[Sociology|Sociologists]] are divided on whether certain degrees of paternalism defend or violate [[Dignity|human dignity]]. In the [[20th century]] in the United States, [[conservative]] political theory was held to regard the general population as needing guidance, and a more centralized government, emphasizing [[Federalism]], at the time exemplified by the leaders of the [[Republican Party]], in contrast to a more [[liberal]] political theory holding that the people as a whole, innately possessed in general enough mature, informed [[common sense]], to determine for themselves what is best to fulfill the needs of the country as a whole, and of regions and states and cities, and of minorities and individual citizens in particular, in favor of a more decentralized government, emphasizing [[States Rights]] and [[Grassroots|grassroots movements]], at the time exemplified by the leaders of the [[Democratic Party]] and the [[Libertarian Party]]. Much has changed in the [[21st century]].

[[Self-determination]]

[[Self-determination]]

==External links==

==External links==