paternalism
Protective authority overreach
Paternalism is the practice of restricting people's freedom or making decisions for them, ostensibly for their own good.
The term evokes a father controlling his children—benevolent intent paired with denial of autonomy.
It appears in discussions of government policy, workplace management, and personal relationships: The new regulations smack of paternalism.
Critics use the word to challenge authority that presumes to know what's best for others.
How authority is exercised
- dominanceSuperior influence over others
- sovereigntySupreme independent authority
- hierarchyRanked authority structure
- oversightSupervision or inadvertent omission
jurisdiction · command · leadership · supervision · regulation · power · influence · tyranny
Excessive supervisory control
- interferenceUnwelcome involvement in affairs
- coercionPressured compliance through threats
- impositionUnfair demand on someone
- manipulationUnderhanded control of others
restriction · constraint · overprotection · intrusion · surveillance · censorship · gatekeeping · dictation
Male-authority based
- mentorshipGuidance from experienced person
- provisionPreparatory supply or clause
- disciplineTrained self-control or specialty
- wisdomGood judgment from experience
elder · guidance · upbringing · caregiver · familial · paterfamilias · seniority · guardianship
Preventing harm or loss
- shelteringProtecting from elements
- custodialOf protective supervision
- guardianshipLegal care of another
- watchfulCarefully attentive, observant
shielding · preventive · preservation · security · safekeeping · overprotective · smothering · coddling
Sincerely trying to help
- protectiveServing to guard
- caringShowing kind concern
- nurturingSupportive care-giving
- guidanceAdvice for decisions
compassion · solicitude · goodwill · charity · welfare · philanthropy · altruism · helpfulness
Minimal-government political philosophy
- autonomyIndependent decision-making capacity
- self-determinationControl over one's fate
- consentVoluntary agreement given
- agencyPower to act
individualism · Mill · liberalism · interventionism · statism · collectivism · communitarianism · utilitarianism
governance
How authority is exercised
- dominanceSuperior influence over others
- sovereigntySupreme independent authority
- hierarchyRanked authority structure
oversight · jurisdiction · command · leadership · supervision · regulation · power · influence · tyranny · despotism
micromanagement
Excessive supervisory control
- interferenceUnwelcome involvement in affairs
- coercionPressured compliance through threats
- impositionUnfair demand on someone
manipulation · restriction · constraint · overprotection · intrusion · surveillance · censorship · gatekeeping · dictation · enforcement
patriarchal
Male-authority based
- mentorshipGuidance from experienced person
- provisionPreparatory supply or clause
- disciplineTrained self-control or specialty
wisdom · elder · guidance · upbringing · caregiver · familial · paterfamilias · seniority · guardianship
safeguarding
Preventing harm or loss
- shelteringProtecting from elements
- custodialOf protective supervision
- guardianshipLegal care of another
watchful · shielding · preventive · preservation · security · safekeeping · overprotective · smothering · coddling · helicoptering
well-meaning
Sincerely trying to help
- protectiveServing to guard
- caringShowing kind concern
- nurturingSupportive care-giving
guidance · compassion · solicitude · goodwill · charity · welfare · philanthropy · altruism · helpfulness · generosity
libertarianism
Minimal-government political philosophy
- autonomyIndependent decision-making capacity
- self-determinationControl over one's fate
- consentVoluntary agreement given
agency · individualism · Mill · liberalism · interventionism · statism · collectivism · communitarianism · utilitarianism · ethics
- interferenceinterfering, meddling, intruding, butting in, obstructing
- bioethicsbioethics, medical ethics, genetic engineering, beneficence, non-maleficence
- ideologiescapitalism, communism, conservatism, liberalism, socialism
- healthcaredoctors, nurses, hospitals, hospital, clinic
- powerauthority, electric power, nuclear power, solar power, wind power
- colonialismcolony, colonization, colonial rule, colonial powers, colonizer
paternalismlibertarianism
Minimal-government political philosophy
laissez-faire · individual liberty · classical liberalism · anarchism · non-interventionism
paternalismautonomy
Independent decision-making capacity
empowerment · self-reliance · agency · independence · informed consent
paternalismegalitarianism
Philosophy of universal equality
partnership · mutual respect · equality · non-hierarchical · reciprocity