Ethics and Public Policy Method and Cases

by Bluhm, William; Heineman, Robert A

• ISBN13: 9780131893436
• ISBN10: 0131893432
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-07-25
• Publisher: Pearson

Summary

This book presents three systematic methods for analyzing public policy issues: utilitarianism, deontology, and prudent pragmatism. It argues for the superiority of prudent pragmatism to the other two approaches. These are described in Part One, together with substantive American values which form the assumptons of ethical analysis. Part Two contains an historical discussion of six public policy areas and presents two detailed case studies in each area. Each case is analysed from the standpoint of utilitarian, deontological, and prudent pragmatic ethics, and an effort is made to show why prudent pragmatism produces the most satisfying results

Table of Contents

Preface	ix
Acknowledgments	x
PART ONE AMERICAN VALUES, ETHICAL ANALYSIS, AND DEMOCRATIC PROCESS	1	(70)
Introduction	3	(3)
Ethics and Policymaking	3	(1)
Overview	4	(1)
References	5	(1)
American Political Culture: Core Values	6	(16)
Five Value Clusters	6	(12)
The Individual: The Politics of Interest	6	(2)
The Individual: The Politics of Conscience	8	(3)
The Community: Populism	11	(3)
The Community: Associationism	14	(1)
Putting It All Together: American Pragmatism	15	(3)
Values and Generational Change	18	(2)
References	20	(2)
A Framework for Ethical Public Policy Analysis	22	(17)
Utilitarianism	22	(4)
Deontological Ethics (Kantianism)	26	(1)
Prudent Pragmatism	27	(8)
Some Case Illustrations	30	(5)
Conclusion	35	(2)
References	37	(2)
Prudent Pragmatism and Consensus: Case Ethics in Monist and in Pluralist Society	39	(10)
The Fusion of Religion and Politics in Monist Society	39	(1)
Case Morality in Monist Society	40	(1)
Casuistry in Medieval Europe	41	(3)
The System of Medieval Casuistry	41	(1)
The Decline of Casuistry	42	(1)
From Casuistry to Theoretical Ethics	43	(1)
Consensus in Pluralist Society	44	(4)
Levels of Consensus	44	(1)
Development of the Pluralist Ideal	45	(1)
Limits on Pluralism	46	(1)
The Question of Abortion: Irruption of Violence	46	(1)
Hopes and Fears	47	(1)
References	48	(1)
Prudent Pragmatism and Democratic Polity: Citizen, Representative, and Policy Analyst	49	(22)
Citizenship in a Democracy	49	(12)
The Classical Liberal Model	49	(1)
Prudent Pragmatism and Deliberative Democracy	50	(1)
Obstacles to Deliberative Democratic Development	51	(3)
The Restoration of Deliberative Democracy	54	(6)
Conclusion: The Role of the Democratic Citizen	60	(1)
Representation and Representatives	61	(3)
Legislators	61	(1)
Executives	62	(2)
Policy Analysis in Deliberative Democracy	64	(4)
Policy Analysis as Technical Expertise	64	(1)
Policy Analysis as Value Clarification and Assessment	64	(1)
Policy Analysis as Prudent Pragmatic Reasoning in Policymaking	65	(1)
Ethicists as Policy Analysts	65	(3)
Conclusion	68	(1)
References	69	(2)
PART TWO ISSUES AND CASES	71	(161)
Introduction to Part Two	73	(1)
National Healthcare Policy	74	(30)
The U.S. Public Health System	74	(8)
Historical Perspective	74	(2)
Controlling Tobacco as a Hazardous Substance: Development of a Policy	76	(6)
Case Study: New York's Response to Secondhand Smoke	82	(7)
Ethical Analysis of the Case	87	(2)
Paying for Individual Healthcare: The Insurance Dilemma	89	(5)
Historical Development	89	(2)
Philosophical Frameworks	91	(2)
Continuing Efforts to Expand Healthcare Coverage	93	(1)
Prescription Drugs and Medicare: A Case Study	94	(8)
Ethical Analysis of the Case	100	(2)
References	102	(2)
Criminal Justice	104	(26)
The Administration of Criminal Justice: A Historical Perspective	104	(4)
The Nineteenth Century: Crime and Local Politics	104	(1)
Professionalization and Nationalization of Law Enforcement	105	(1)
Crime Control and Rights	106	(2)
Racial Profiling and the War on Drugs: Search-and-Seizure Jurisprudence and Racial Profiling	108	(5)
Racial Profiling in New Jersey: A Case Study	113	(6)
Ethical Analysis of the Case	115	(2)
The Fight Against Terrorism: An Addendum	117	(2)
Combating Subversion: Crime Control or War	119	(4)
The Lackawanna Six: A Case Study	123	(5)
Ethical Analysis of the Case	125	(1)
USA PATRIOT Act in Broader Perspective	126	(2)
References	128	(2)
Social Welfare Policy in the United States: Conflicting Principles of Distributive Justice	130	(20)
The Welfare State in Europe and in America	131	(5)
America's Response to Immigration: Illegals and Welfare	136	(3)
Welfare and Illegal Aliens: The Case of California	139	(4)
Ethical Analysis of the Case	142	(1)
Healthcare for the Poor	143	(2)
Medicaid and the Poor in Allegany County: A Case Study	145	(3)
Ethical Analysis of the Case	147	(1)
References	148	(2)
Biotechnology and Humanity	150	(23)
The Biotechnology Revolution	151	(2)
Public Control of Scientific Research	153	(1)
Stem Cell Research	153	(2)
The Federal Regulation of Research	155	(1)
The Bush Prohibition: A Case Study	155	(9)
Ethical Analysis of the Case	159	(2)
Therapeutic Cloning of Stem Cells	161	(1)
Other Dilemmas	162	(2)
Organ Transplantation and Organ Donation	164	(4)
Enhancing the Organ Supply by Changing the Moral Culture: A Case Study	168	(3)
Ethical Analysis of the Case: Communitarianism vs. Commodification	170	(1)
References	171	(2)
The Natural Environment and Human Well-Being	173	(21)
Environmental Policy---A Major Concern	173	(5)
Command and Control	176	(1)
A More Flexible Approach	177	(1)
Clean Air	178	(2)
The Clear Skies Initiative: A Case Study	180	(7)
Ethical Analysis of the Case	185	(2)
The Harnessing of America's Rivers	187	(1)
Problems and Contradictions in the Dam Complex: A Case Study	188	(4)
Ethical Analysis of the Case	191	(1)
References	192	(2)
Ethical Defense	194	(32)
America in the World: Leader or Hegemon?	194	(3)
America at War	197	(3)
Preemptive War	200	(1)
The Decision to Invade Iraq: A Case Study	200	(6)
Ethical Analysis of the Case	204	(2)
Treatment of Enemy Prisoners in Wartime: Jus in Bello	206	(9)
American Practice in the Treatment of Prisoners of War	207	(1)
Treatment of Prisoners During the Second Iraq War	208	(1)
A Philosophical Discussion	209	(3)
The Problem of Accountability: Moral and Legal Responsibility	212	(3)
Interrogations in Abu Ghraib Prison: A Case Study	215	(8)
Ethical Analysis of the Case	220	(3)
References	223	(3)
Conclusion	226	(6)
References	231	(1)
Index	232