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Shaping People’s Preferences: Liberal Neutrality, Means Paternalism and Tobacco Control

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Johannes KniessORCiD

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).

Abstract

Liberal neutrality compels governments to respect individual preferences. Yet health-promotion campaigns, such as modern tobacco control policies, often seek to cultivate a preference for a healthy lifestyle. Liberal theorists have attempted to justify these policies by appealing to the concept of ‘means paternalism’, whereby these policies align with existing preferences. In contrast, this article argues that shaping preferences can be not only permissible but also morally required. Governments can preserve neutrality while influencing preferences by promoting generic goods valued in diverse societies and considering the preference-formation of future generations. This argument provides a stronger rationale for tobacco control policies.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Kniess J

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Economics and Philosophy

Year: 2025

Volume: 41

Issue: 2

Pages: 303-321

Print publication date: 01/07/2025

Online publication date: 23/09/2024

Acceptance date: 27/07/2024

Date deposited: 05/11/2024

ISSN (print): 0266-2671

ISSN (electronic): 1474-0028

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

URL: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0266267124000233

DOI: 10.1017/S0266267124000233

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