Should policy ethics come in two colours: green or white?

Area of Science:

• Ethics
• Policy Studies
• Academic Publishing

Background:

• Policy ethics papers can be misinterpreted, leading to confusion between theoretical discussions and actionable proposals.
• The lack of clear categorization hinders readers' understanding of the authors' intent.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a "green" and "white" paper labeling system for policy ethics literature.
• To enhance clarity and prevent misinterpretation of policy-related academic work.

Main Methods:

• Proposing a dual labeling system: "green" for exploratory, unconstrained discussions and "white" for policy-influencing proposals.
• Defining essential and desirable characteristics for "white" papers to ensure their policy relevance.

Main Results:

• The proposed "green" label would clarify that a paper is a philosophical exploration, not a policy recommendation.
• The "white" label would signify a serious policy proposal, with specific characteristics to guide its development and application.

Conclusions:

• Implementing a "green" or "white" label will improve the communication and reception of policy ethics papers.
• This system will help readers distinguish between theoretical discourse and practical policy recommendations, fostering more informed engagement.