Respectful Paternalism

A common objection to paternalism concerns its expressive content. Many reject paternalistic policies and actions on the ground that they arguably involve insulting expressions of disrespect toward those subjected them. The paper challenges this view. It argues refraining from acting paternalistically can be disrespectful. Specifically, there is a relevant way in which disregards moral worth B if stands idly by when about act very imprudently. If true, treating others with equal respect concern, as relational egalitarians rightly ask us do, will somewhat surprisingly sometimes them paternalistically.