ABSTRACT
This opinion piece focuses on the autonomy of individuals and its denial in childhood or older adults. Just because of age, paternalistic actions may seem to be justified. This is especially true in the context of care. But are autonomies always violated when paternalistic interventions or decisions are made—especially when it is for the good of the individuals? What is autonomy anyway? And why should we not simply accept breaches of autonomy in ourselves and others, or violate others' autonomy? In addition to answering these questions, this chapter provides a short introduction into the philosophical concept of autonomy based on John Stuart Mill, and a study-based real-world approach to autonomy at different ages. Violation of autonomy is not only a problem of the affected individuals but also a societal issue. There are various sources of danger of potential autonomy violation but also suggestions a circumvention is possible. Ultimately, it boils down to the simple formula: talk to each other! As a sociologist with a focus on ageing research, I have been almost automatically inclined to orient this chapter towards older age. This—and the fact that I have no training in psychology—inevitably brings biases with it. One is that children's research is only marginally considered. This chapter has a more essayistic approach, which is intended to stimulate discussion and sharpen our perspective.
