Feeling oneself to be obligated to, or even permitted to “help” others by making their choices for them is an arrogant choice. Even the noblest intervention into others’ affairs is illogical at first glance, it would seem almost immoral not to stop someone from crossing a busy street, surely, there is no good reason for someone to endanger their life. However, what if they are attempting suicide? What if they have conspired, along with one of the drivers on the road, to stage an accident, so as to raise public awareness of the dangers of the automobile? What if you are hallucinating, and there are no cars? What if this person has fast enough reflexes to jump out of the way of the cars? These are not likely explanations by any means however, they are possible explanations.
In those cases, this reckless individual’s behavior seems irrational. In fact, it is rational, but they are acting on information that you don‘t have. It is patronizing to assume that behavior we don’t understand is irrational different people have different preferences and are acting upon different knowledge as we are. The assumption that behavior we don’t understand is wrong assumes that other individuals’ behavior is based off of inferior knowledge and preferences than our own. My ability to judge other people’s choices as “wrong” or “right” assumes that l have more knowledge than everyone else or that my opinions and preferences are somehow “better”. Unfortunately, I am only human, and such assumptions are absurd. That is not to say we don’t make mistakes people often regret their own decisions. However, if we are fallible when deciding for ourselves, surely we must be fallible when deciding for other people.
You are the most knowledgeable about your needs and abilities, as compared to anyone else While you are by no means a perfect decision-maker, you are the best. Governments often try to pass laws explicitly to help people “make better choices”. In past centuries, it was illegal for a caucasian to dirty themselves by marrying a member of an “inferior” race. Nowadays, it is more common for citizens to have to pay “sin taxes” on tobacco and alcoholic products These policies are distinct from laws that prohibit murder and arson; they are laws to protect us from ourselves, not others’ malevolence. These policies are based on paternalism and arrogance, as all micromanagement is. Unfortunately, these policies work, Tobacco taxes do reduce smoking, and thus save lives. However, these lives saved come at the expense of our untouched freedom to make our decisions free of external influence, Ultimately, there is no perfect solution Safety and public health comes at the expense of morality, and vice versa.
