Response: Collective Moral Agents and Their Collective-Level Virtues

Area of Science:

• Bioethics
• Public Health Ethics
• Moral Philosophy

Background:

• The paper 'Public Health Virtue Ethics' faced commentaries from Jessica Nihlén Fahlquist and Karen Meagher.
• The commentaries raised significant challenges regarding the ethical agency of collectives and the nature of virtue at a collective level.

Observation:

• This response focuses on two key areas of critique: the moral agency of collectives and the existence of collective-level virtues.
• The author engages directly with the specific points raised by Nihlén Fahlquist and Meagher.

Findings:

• The paper defends the concept of collectives as moral agents, responding to Nihlén Fahlquist's concerns.
• It also explores and clarifies the notion of collective-level virtue, addressing Meagher's commentary.

Implications:

• Clarifying these concepts is crucial for advancing the field of public health virtue ethics.
• The discussion contributes to a deeper understanding of ethical decision-making in public health, particularly concerning group responsibilities.