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Ethics and the Public Interest

Ethics and the Public Interest. From the Ethics of Process (Means) to the Ethics of Ends. How do we judge that a policy is “good” or “right?” E.G.: Is the bombing of Hiroshima an ethically justified use of violence? (“jus in bello”) Versus Is the war ethically justified? (“jus ad bellum”).

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Ethics and the Public Interest

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  1. Ethics and the Public Interest

  2. From the Ethics of Process (Means) to the Ethics of Ends • How do we judge that a policy is “good” or “right?” E.G.: • Is the bombing of Hiroshima an ethically justified use of violence? (“jus in bello”) Versus • Is the war ethically justified? (“jus ad bellum”)

  3. Distinction Between the “Private” and the “Public Interest.” • Private interest: • Self-interested assessment of public policies by a private firm, e.g., General Motors “What’s good for General Motors is good for America.” Attributed to Charles Wilson, President of GM a Senate confirmation hearings to be Secretary of Defense • Governor’s self interest in how policy affects chances for re-election • Public interest: • Public good of nation as a whole • Arguments related to desirability or rightness of pubic policies must be suitable for public justification (e.g., “public reasons”)

  4. Public Interest Reflected in Conceptions of a “Good Society” Price: • public interest can be defined though fundamental social values • Efficiency • Effectiveness • Equity • Liberty • Security • Political Feasibility

  5. The Example of Political Feasibility as an Ethical Criterion Political Feasibility of a policy – probability that it will be enacted into law and implemented • Political feasibility non-ethical justification for 2 reasons: • Feasibility per se does not ethically justify policy • Details of political feasibility often cannot be used as public justification (e.g., “public reasons”)

  6. Policy Ends/Goals to be Examined in PLCY 240 • Efficiency (CBA) • Equity • Liberty (Paternalism/Morality)

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