On the Viability of Epistemic Paternalism: Epistemic Autonomy

Abstract

The main upshot of the previous chapter is that epistemically paternalistic practices do not violate the personal autonomy of those interfered with. It remains to be seen, however, if there is some specifically epistemic form of autonomy that is violated through epistemically paternalistic interference, and — if so — whether this gives us any reason not to practise epistemic paternalism. To settle these issues, however, we first need to say something about what epistemic autonomy is.