Does Fairness Require Paternalism?
摘要
In Enforcing Morality, Steven Wall argues that distributive fairness might require some forms of paternalism, specifically paternalistic drug laws. Here I make three observations about this claim. First, although distributive fairness might require drug laws in some form, it does not follow from this that distributive fairness requires paternalism as this is ordinarily understood. Second, although Wall’s own conception of distributive fairness might warrant drug laws in some form, it is not clear that this policy would be paternalistic as Wall himself understands this notion. Third, although distributive fairness might warrant some paternalistic drug policies, it is doubtful that it could warrant any general prohibition of adult recreational drug use.