Suggestion, Ethics of

Suggestion refers to a form of non-coercive influence that shapes perception, judgment, or behavior without eliminating the possibility of alternative responses. This entry examines suggestion as a pervasive feature of human cognition and social interaction, rather than as an exceptional or pathological phenomenon. Drawing on philosophy, psychology, psychiatry, and ethics, it analyzes the conceptual boundaries between suggestion, persuasion, and manipulation, and explores their relevance to autonomy, responsibility, and informed consent. Attention is given to altered states of consciousness, clinical contexts, collective influence, and classical philosophical accounts. Ethical evaluation of suggestion is presented as context-dependent, focusing on how influence structures the field of available alternatives.