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Philosophers and the public policy process: inside, outside, or nowhere at all?
1Department of Philosophy, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056.
The Journal of Medicine and Philosophy
|August 1, 1990
Summary
Applied ethicists should expand their public policy role beyond analysis to include moral judgments and advocacy. This expanded engagement can improve ethical theory, even when participating from outside established structures.
Area of Science:
- Ethics
- Public Policy
- Philosophy
Background:
- Applied ethicists traditionally focus on identifying values, clarifying concepts, and analyzing arguments in public policy.
- Current practices may limit the scope of ethical engagement in policy-making.
Purpose of the Study:
- To advocate for an expanded role for applied ethicists in public policy.
- To address and evaluate objections to philosophers' involvement in policy formation.
- To propose an enhanced model for ethical participation in policy processes.
Main Methods:
- Conceptual analysis of the role of ethicists in public policy.
- Argumentation and evaluation of common objections to philosopher participation.
- Philosophical reflection on the nature of applied ethics and policy engagement.
Main Results:
- Standard applied ethics tasks in policy are insufficient.
- Objections concerning competence, integrity, and co-option are analyzed.
- Applied ethicists cannot entirely avoid policy processes.
Conclusions:
- Applied ethicists should make specific moral judgments and advocate for policies.
- Engagement, even from outside established bodies, can improve ethical theory.
- An expanded role for ethicists in policy formulation is recommended.