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How autonomy is understood in discussions on the ethics of nudging

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 April 2018

ANASTASIA VUGTS ,
MARIËTTE VAN DEN HOVEN ,
EMELY DE VET  and
MARCEL VERWEIJ
ANASTASIA VUGTS*
Affiliation:
Chair group Strategic Communication, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands and Chair group Philosophy, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
MARIËTTE VAN DEN HOVEN
Affiliation:
Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
EMELY DE VET
Affiliation:
Chair group Strategic Communication, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
MARCEL VERWEIJ
Affiliation:
Chair group Philosophy, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
*
*Correspondence to: Hollandseweg 1, 6706 KN, Wageningen, The Netherlands. Email: anastasia.vugts@wur.nl
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Abstract

Nudging is considered a promising approach for behavioural change. At the same time, nudging has raised ethical concerns, specifically in relation to the impact of nudges on autonomous choice. A complexity is that in this debate authors may appeal to different understandings or dimensions of autonomy. Clarifying the different conceptualisations of autonomy in ethical debates around nudging would help to advance our understanding of the ethics of nudging. A literature review of these considerations was conducted in order to identify and differentiate between the conceptualisations of autonomy. In 33 articles on the ethics of nudging, we identified 280 autonomy considerations, which we labelled with 790 unique autonomy codes and grouped under 61 unique super-codes. Finally, we formulated three general conceptualisations of autonomy. Freedom of choice refers to the availability of options and the environment in which individuals have to make choices. Agency involves an individual's capacity to deliberate and determine what to choose. Self-constitution relates to someone's identity and self-chosen goals. In the debate about the ethics of nudging, authors refer to different senses of autonomy. Clarifying these conceptualisations contributes to a better understanding of how nudges can undermine or, on the other hand, strengthen autonomy.

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Type
Review Article
Information
Behavioural Public Policy , Volume 4 , Issue 1 , March 2020 , pp. 108 - 123
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2018

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