The concept and the justification of Paternalism

espanolEste articulo se divide en dos partes. En la primera parte, el autor interviene en la discusion sobre el concepto de paternalismo proponiendo que esta se ponga en relacion con la teoria del poder. A su juicio, los casos mas claros de paternalismo serian ejercicios de poder y los casos dudosos se situarian en los limites del poder: por ejemplo, serian casos de mera influencia. Quien ejerce el poder sobre otros puede ser responsabilizado de las consecuencias de este ejercicio; esta posibilidad de exigir responsabilidad explica la necesidad de justificacion del comportamiento paternalista. Sobre dicha justificacion, en la segunda parte, el autor propone una serie de condiciones que deberian cumplirse, fundamentalmente en el contexto del paternalismo del Estado con sus ciudadanos, para poder afirmar que una concreta interferencia paternalista esta justificada. Entre dichas condiciones destaca la exigencia de una situacion de incompetencia basica de la persona tratada paternalistamente. EnglishThis article is divided into two parts. In the first, the author enters into the discussion on the concept of paternalism, proposing that it should be related to the theory of power. As he sees it, the clearest cases of paternalism are cases where power is exercised and the doubtful ones are those found in the limits of power: for example, they are cases of mere influence. He who exercises power over others can be made responsible for the consequences of this action; the fact that responsibility can be required explains the necessity for the justification of paternalistic behaviour. In the second part, with reference to this justification, the author proposes a number of conditions which should be met, basically in the context of the State's paternalism with its citizens, in order to be able to state that a specific paternalistic intervention is justified. Of these conditions, the one that stands out is the requirement that the person who is treated in a paternalistic way should be in a situation of basic incompetence.