The Ethics of Influence

Ethical states embrace autonomy, self-government, dignity and public welfare. These four values should limit what states can do.

Governmental agencies, non-profit organizations and for-profit corporations gather data and run tests on their audiences. They use what they learn to shape people’s behavior. Are they using this information to coerce, which many people object to? Or are they using it to influence people, which most people find more acceptable – although people should still determine what is ethical and what is not.

Ethical states emphasize autonomy, self-government, dignity and public welfare. No state should transgress these four values. They constrain governmental actions and provide criteria for judging those actions. However, governments must do more than refrain from evil. They must promote people’s welfare, which does not arise spontaneously. At times, they must use coercion, though as seldom and as little as possible. Forbidding people from taking certain actions limits their autonomy and generates unexpected consequences, like outlawing something and thereby spawning a black market for it. Instead of fiat, governments should use influence, which can...