Under teleological ethics, paternalistic behavior is supported when which condition is met?

Under teleological ethics, paternalistic behavior is supported when which condition is met?

• A. If harm is caused but only minimal.
• B. If no harm is done.
• C. If the action aligns with personal autonomy.
• D. If it promotes fairness.

Answer: (B)

In teleological ethics, actions are judged by their outcomes. Paternalism is acceptable when it leads to a better overall result without causing harm. So the condition that best supports paternalistic behavior is that no harm is done by the intervention. If the act protects someone or helps them without introducing any negative consequences, it fits the teleological aim of maximizing good outcomes. If harm were caused, even minimally, the justification becomes more complex and depends on weighing benefits against the harms, which makes the simple, universally acceptable condition harder to claim. Autonomy alignment would undermine paternalism because respecting a person’s own choices clashes with overriding their decisions; fairness relates to justice in distribution, not the necessity of paternalistic protection.

In teleological ethics, actions are judged by their outcomes. Paternalism is acceptable when it leads to a better overall result without causing harm. So the condition that best supports paternalistic behavior is that no harm is done by the intervention. If the act protects someone or helps them without introducing any negative consequences, it fits the teleological aim of maximizing good outcomes.

If harm were caused, even minimally, the justification becomes more complex and depends on weighing benefits against the harms, which makes the simple, universally acceptable condition harder to claim. Autonomy alignment would undermine paternalism because respecting a person’s own choices clashes with overriding their decisions; fairness relates to justice in distribution, not the necessity of paternalistic protection.