ABSTRACT
It’s often taken for granted that paternalism conflicts with autonomy. Since there is no consensus on exactly what autonomy is, however, this claim is less obvious than it appears. Further complicating matters, there is no consensus on precisely how paternalism is supposed to conflict with autonomy. This chapter cuts through the confusion by identifying four distinct ways in which paternalism might threaten autonomy: 1) by frustrating autonomy as condition; 2) by corroding autonomy as capacity; 3) by disrespecting autonomy as capacity; and 4) by disrespecting autonomy as right. Killmister then surveys the leading theories of autonomy, considering what resources each has for vindicating the claim that paternalism and autonomy conflict.
