The Greater Good

Philosophy, psychology, and policy.

J.D. Trout is a philosopher of science and a speech perception researcher at Loyola University in Chicago. His most recent book is The Empathy Gap. See full bio

January 5, 2009, Behavioral Economics

Comments on "Peanut Butter and Paternalism"

Peanut Butter and Paternalism

By J.D. Trout, Ph.D. on January 5, 2009 in The Greater Good

Ever wonder how many fly parts can safely reside in your peanut butter? The government decides, and consumers don't complain. Now consider: How many lives can be safely exposed to helmetless motorcycling? When the government decides, many complain. Read More

paternalism

Submitted by urusla on February 2, 2009 - 6:31pm.

But when, if ever, does an individual's cognitive imperfection become so great that the government gets to substitute its judgment for your own? Usually.
I am not a psychologist, economist or philosopher but did study poli sci--People who choose the jelly donut instead of the 401K are not inconsistent--they are just not equally interested (especially in the moment of smelling that fresh donut) in all of their interests--if we were so informed and empowered as to be able to act on all of our interests--well--we really couldn't. Pluralism recognizes that we have many interests and that our system works because we only care enough about some of them to actually take action on a few of them--so helmet laws generate more action than bug infested peanut butter (though recent news may change that calculation for us). Is it paternalism to hand over decisions on issues we are not that interested in? I don't think so.

Hi Ursula, In answer to your

Submitted by J.D. Trout, Ph.D. on February 2, 2009 - 7:39pm.

Hi Ursula, In answer to your last comment, I don't think so either, especially in the case you ask about. There, you are autonomously deciding to not take action. But there are those who see danger in going down this road -- that the deliberative capacities of such individuals will eventually atrophy. But there is really no evidence for this belief. J.D. Trout
Philosophy Dept and the Parmly Sensory Sciences Institute
Loyola University Chicago
6525 North Sheridan Road
Chicago, IL 60626
773-508-2301
http:

I trust you re: the lack of

Submitted by ursula on February 3, 2009 - 6:05pm.

I trust you re: the lack of evidence but further--my point is that people do take action on things they view as important--my deliberative capacities re: bug infested peanut butter may be atrophied but not with regard to environmental issues which I do investigate, am informed about and press for action on. (Though I would concede that there are activists who are in the habit of engaging in lots of issues and many many people who enage almost never. Thanks for the reply--the NYT piece was good and led me to the site--hope it sparks more discussion.