PPAS 4190 3.0 Ethics and the Public Service: Integrity and Democracy

1. PPAS 4190 3.0Ethics and the Public Service: Integrity and Democracy Ian Greene September 19, 2013

2. Course Outline • Kernaghan and Langford text: $16 • Greene and Shugarman text: $15 • Let’s introduce new students • Revised course outline and assignments • Dates for group presentations • Web page: www.yorku.ca/igreene: powerpoints • Would you like a field trip to the office of the Ontario Integrity Commissioner, Thursday, Oct 24 or Friday, Oct 25? (I will be in Calgary.)

3. Ethical Analysis • Two approaches (from philosophy) to ethical analysis: • Consequentialist (similar to teleologists[telos: final cause] or naturalists): judge an action by its likely result. Eg. utilitarianism (greatest good for the greatest number). Sometimes the means justifies the end. • Intentionalist (also called deontological [deon: duty]): fundamental principles must be applied instead of focusing on consequences. Eg., “do to others as you would have them do to you.” Focus on the action, not the result. Is the action morally justified? The end does not justify the means. The rule is universal. • Fortunately, these two approaches often lead to the same conclusion as to the proper action in an ethical dilemma.

4. Importance of Reasoning • It is important to be able to justify a decision in relation to an ethical dilemma. You may be asked why you chose a particular action. • You could do either an intentionalist analysis, or a consequentialist analysis, or both, and then you can be prepared to be accountable for your decision. • If possible, it is useful to discuss your analysis with another person, without violating privacy. Two heads are nearly always better than one. • Governments sometimes have trained “ethics counselors” in each workplace whom you can bounce dilemmas off confidentially. In Ontario, you can consult confidentially with the Office of the Conflict of Interest Commissioner.

5. Greene & Shugarman, Ch 1 • Saskatchewan constituency communications fund scandal 1995: all Conservative MLAs involved. End of Sask Conservative party. Abuse of trust. • RCMP “dirty tricks” 1970s: “dirty hands.” • Both represent “corruption.” • Ethical analysis provides way to work out • Moral autonomy: autonomy in which individuals are self-governing re morally relevant choices, without being selfish.

6. Mutual Respect • Democracy: equality and respect for all: mutual respect. • Dworkin: “individuals have a right to equal concern and respect in the design and administation of the political institutions that govern them. They possess this right not b virtue of birth or characteristic or merit or excellence but simply as human beings with the capacity to make plans and give justice.” • We owe the same consideration to others, when making decisions that affect them, as we feel we are owed when others make decisions that affect us. • Mutual respect is the basic principle of democracy

7. Origins of mutual respect • World religions: every human being is of equal worth, equally deserving of respect. (But religions, like politicians, can become “corrupt,” and abandon principle to promote organizational goals.) • Philosophy of liberalism: evolution over 2 centuries. Liberalism, socialism, reform liberalism, neo-conservatism and neo-liberalism; current situation

8. Five principles of democracy • Social equality • Deference to the majority • Minority rights • Freedom • Freedom of expression • Integrity

9. Responsible Public Servant, Ch 2 • Public Interest in the real world • Utility of the public interest • Public interest as an operational guide • Neutral service and avoidance of self-interest • Search for a synthesis • What can we conclude from all this?