The Paternal Pitch

Pitch Type: Philosophical

The Paternal Pitch asserts that people can't be expected to make choices in line with their own self-interest.

What's a Pitch?

A pitch is a label for a commonly used argument or persuasion strategy.

Blog Post on Pitches

Instances

Robin Hanson Economics Professor

No, having as many people as possible voting is not a legitimate public interest. To maximize the chance that we elect the better candidate, we do not want people to vote if they are so ill-informed that by voting they will decrease this chance. And even if someone’s vote would increase this chance, if the increase is infinitesimal the fact that voting is costly can make us prefer he or she just stay home.

The Paternal Pitch

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Context: Is not bothering to vote acceptable?

John McCain U.S. Senator, Republican

I can't support the legalization of marijuana. Scientific evidence indicates that the moment that it enters your body, one, it does damage, and second, it can become addictive. It is a gateway drug.

The Slippery Slope Pitch The Paternal Pitch

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Context: Should marijuana be legal?

George W. Bush United States President 2001-2009

My Administration published its first National Drug Control Strategy in 2002, inspired by a great moral imperative: we must reduce illegal drug use because, over time, drugs rob men, women, and children of their dignity and of their character.

The Family Pitch The Moral Pitch The Paternal Pitch

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Context: Should psychoactive drugs be legal?