Philosophical Dimensions of Public Policy

by Galston,William

• ISBN13: 9780765801005
• ISBN10: 0765801000
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2002-04-30
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

At the mid-point of the twentieth century, many philosophers in the English-speaking world regarded political and moral philosophy as all but moribund. Thinkers influenced by logical positivism believe that ethical statements are merely disguised expressions of individual emotion lacking propositional force, or that the conditions for the validation of ethical statements could not be specified, or that their content, however humanly meaningful, is inexpressible.Philosophical Dimensions of Public Policy presents thirty-four articles written by research scholars numerous fields -- philosophy, political theory, medicine, law, biology, economics, ecology and sociology -- treating a broad range of topics in practical philosophy. The Institute for Philosophy and Public Affairs has been home for these ideas, pioneering a distinctive method of conducting inquiry into the moral dimensions of public life, and contributing to public discussion and deliberation. Members of the Institute reject the idea that public philosophy means reaching into the philosopher's tool-kit and "applying" prefabricated theories to particular problems. They set in motion a dialogue between the distinctive moral features of practical problems and the more general moral theories or considerations that seem most likely to elucidate these problems.The volume is divided into five areas: "Politics, Civic Life, and Moral Education"; "Diversity, Identity, and Equal Opportunity"; "Human Rights, Development Ethics, and International Justice"; "Biotechnology, Genetic Research, and Health Policy"; and "Natural Environment, Human Communities."Philosophical Dimensions of Public Policy presents empirical data andphilosophical arguments with the intention of informing public policy and public deliberation. Scholars as well as graduate and undergraduate students are certain to find it useful to their research work.

Table of Contents

Introduction	ix
William A. Galston
Part 1: Politics, Civil Life, and Moral Education
The Abortion Dilemma	3	(18)
Feminism and Liberal Individualism	5	(2)
Robert K. Fullinwider
The Conservative Perspective	7	(3)
Bonnie Kent
Is There a Middle Ground?	10	(4)
Judith Lichtenberg
Neutral Dialogue and the Abortion Debate	14	(7)
William A. Galston
Mandated Service and Moral Learning	21	(6)
Robert K. Fullinwider
Consultants and American Political Culture	27	(12)
Peter Levine
Chastity, Morality, and the Schools	39	(8)
Robert K. Fullinwider
The Holocaust and Moral Education	47	(8)
Lawrence A. Blum
Value Pluralism and Political Liberalism	55	(10)
William A. Galston
Expert Analysis v. Public Opinion: The Case of Campaign Finance Reform	65	(12)
Peter Levine
Getting Practical about Deliberative Democracy	77	(14)
Peter Levine
Part 2: Diversity, Identity, and Equal Opportunity
Racism in the Head, Racism in the World	91	(6)
Judith Lichtenberg
Multiculturalism and Cultural Authenticity	97	(8)
Claudia Mills
The Merits of Merit	105	(10)
Judith Lichtenberg
David Luban
The Affirmative Action Debate	115	(18)
Diversity and Affirmative Action	115	(9)
Robert K. Fullinwider
Diversity and Stereotyping	124	(9)
David Wasserman
Counting Race and Ethnicity: Revising the U.S. Census	133	(10)
Judith Lichtenberg
Suzanne Bianchi
Robert Wachbroit
David Wasserman
Convention and Competence: Disability Rights in Sports and Education	143	(12)
Anita Silvers
David Wasserman
Part 3: Human Rights, Development Ethics, and International Justice
Income and Development	155	(8)
Jerome M. Segal
Population Policy and the Clash of Cultures	163	(8)
Judith Lichtenberg
``Asian Values'' and the Universality of Human Rights	171	(10)
Xiaorong Li
Negotiating Jerusalem	181	(10)
Jerome M. Segal
A Question of Priorities: Human Rights, Development, and ``Asian Values''	191	(10)
Xiaorong Li
War and Sacrifice in Kosovo	201	(10)
Paul W. Kahn
Retribution and Reconciliation	211	(12)
David A. Crocker
Part 4: Biotechnology, Genetic Research, and Health Policy
Biotechnology and the Idea of Human Nature	223	(8)
Robert Wachbroit
Futile Treatment and the Ethics of Medicine	231	(8)
Nancy S. Jecker
Disowning Knowledge: Issues in Genetic Testing	239	(8)
Robert Wachbroit
Genetic Encores: The Ethics of Human Cloning	247	(10)
Robert Wachbroit
One Pill Makes You Smarter: An Ethical Appraisal of the Rise of Ritalin	257	(8)
Claudia Mills
Trials on Trial	265	(10)
Deborah Hellman
Part 5: Natural Environments, Human Communities
Valuing Nature: Assessing Damages for Oil Spills	275	(8)
Alan Strudler
Alternatives to the Mass Consumption Society	283	(8)
Jerome M. Segal
Can We Put a Price on Nature's Services?	291	(10)
Mark Sagoff
Preserving the Waterman's Way of Life	301	(10)
David Wasserman
Mick Womersley
Controlling Global Climate: The Debate Over Pollution Trading	311	(8)
Mark Sagoff
Are We Simple Creatures?	319	(8)
Jerome M. Segal
What's Wrong with Exotic Species?	327	(14)
Mark Sagoff
About the Contributors	341	(8)
About the Editors	349