The concept of paternalism, though not explicitly labeled as such until the late nineteenth century, has long been present in political and moral philosophy. Adam Smith's Theory of Moral Sentiments provides a foundational example of paternal authority, illustrating how parental care assumes superior judgment over a child's well-being (Smith 1982b, 142). This analogy serves as a point of departure for examining whether Smith endorsed a paternalistic role for government. Paternalism, broadly defined as state intervention to restrict individual liberty for an individual's own good, is often viewed as incompatible with Smith's system of natural liberty, which privileges individual autonomy and self-regulation. Yet Smith recognized certain exceptions to this system, raising questions about the extent and meaning of his resistance to paternalism.
Learning how to behave is more the source than the result of insight, reason, and understanding. Man is not born wise, rational and good, but has to be taught to become so. It is not our intellect that created our morals; rather, human interactions governed by our morals make possible the growth of reason and those capabilities associated with it.
