To harm an individual is to interfere with his leading his own life

To harm an individual is to interfere with his leading his own life. Helping a person against his will also interferes. Therefore, a Lockean theory will impose constraints on paternalistic actions.
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by Latuff


In other words, what is wrong with your harming me is not simply that you worsen my welfare but that you worsen my welfare. A moral theory that takes individuality seriously will therefore adopt a strong principle of harm avoiding. A theory like utilitarianism that does not take individuality seriously may also adopt a strong principle of harm avoiding, but if it does so it will be for a different reason, namely that harming generally results in overall welfare diminishment.

(Lomansky, in The Journal of Libertarian Studies)