Ethics and Public Policy: A Philosophical Inquiry

✍ Scribed by Jonathan Wolff

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2019
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 345
• Edition: 2
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

Ethics and Public Policy: A Philosophical Inquiry, second edition subjects important and controversial areas of public policy to philosophical scrutiny. Jonathan Wolff, a renowned philosopher and veteran of many public committees, introduces and assesses core problems and controversies in public policy from a philosophical standpoint. Each chapter focuses on an important area of public policy where there is considerable moral and political disagreement. Topics discussed include:

• Can we defend inflicting suffering on animals in scientific experiments for human benefit?

• What limits to gambling can be achieved through legislation?

• What assumptions underlie drug policy? Can we justify punishing those who engage in actions that harm only themselves?

• What is so bad about crime? What is the point of punishment?

Other chapters discuss health care, disability, safety, and the free market. Throughout the book, fundamental questions for both philosopher and policy maker recur: what are the best methods for connecting philosophy and public policy? Should thinking about public policy be guided by an ‘an ideal world’ or the world we live in now? If there are ‘knock down’ arguments in philosophy why are there none in public policy?

Revised throughout to reflect changes in policy and research, this second edition includes four new chapters, on risky new technologies, the future of work, poverty, and immigration.

Each chapter concludes with ‘Lessons for Philosophy’ making this book not only an ideal introduction for those coming to philosophy, ethics, or public policy for the first time, but also a vital resource for anyone grappling with the moral complexity underlying policy debates.

✦ Table of Contents

Cover
Half Title
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Table of Contents
Preface to the second edition
Preface to the first edition
Introduction
1. Scientific experiments on animals
Introduction
The use of animals in scientific experiments
Moral philosophy and policy debates: animal experimentation
The standard approach: defining the moral community
An alternative approach: morally relevant properties
Understanding philosophical disagreement
The problematic status of human treatment of animals
Progress in public policy
Conclusion: lessons for philosophy
2. Gambling
Introduction
The case against gambling
Enforcing the law
Conclusion: lessons for philosophy
3. Drugs
Introduction
Current regulations in the UK
Society’s underlying drug strategy
Philosophical arguments concerning the regulation of drugs
Methodological problems
Conclusion: lessons for philosophy
4. Safety
Introduction
Setting asafety standard
Calculating the VPF
Comparing different cases
Conclusion: lessons for philosophy
5. Risky new technologies
Introduction
The introduction of anew technology
Cost–benefit analysis and its limits
Risk, uncertainty, and radical uncertainty
The risk triangle and moral hazard
Decision-making under radical uncertainty
Conclusion: lessons for philosophy
6. Crime and punishment
Introduction
What’s so bad about crime?
Punishment
Conclusion: lessons for philosophy
7. Health
Introduction
Health and health systems
Inequalities in health and the social determinants of health: the UK experience
Health security
Conclusion: lessons for philosophy
8. Disability
Introduction
Disability, independence, inclusion
Choice of strategies
Remaining problems
Conclusion: lessons for philosophy
9. The free market
Introduction
The market: when and when not?
Blocked exchanges
Markets and the voluntary sector
Conclusion: lessons for philosophy
10. The future of work
Introduction: the ever-changing workplace
Trends in employment: past, present, and near future
The moral questions
Unemployment and basic income
Conclusion: lessons for philosophy
11. Poverty
Introduction
What is poverty?
Avoiding poverty
Moral debates about poverty
Anti-poverty action
Conclusions: lessons for philosophy
12. Immigration
Introduction: the Evian Conference
Moral debates about immigration
Varieties of immigration
Open or closed borders?
Economic migrants
Refugees
The brain drain
Treatment of immigrants
Conclusions: lessons for philosophy
13. Conclusion: connecting philosophy and public policy
Harm-reduction arguments
The limits to harm-reduction arguments
Is the harm-reduction argument biased?
Benefits to philosophy of engaging with public policy
Changing the status quo
Note on the chapters
Further reading
Bibliography
Index