Public Policy Analysis

Can we rise above partisanship and sectarian schisms or is the rightness of a position simply a function of the power of the particular individual or group that holds it? Ethics is premised on the view that there are principles of right and good that transcend the narrow self-interests that serve an individual or group at the expense of others. In the Public Policy Analysis Practice of The Applied Ethics Group, we seek to craft thoughtful responses to problems that draw on the insights of ethics unencumbered by partisan affiliations.

We have all heard the old saw, “You can’t legislate morality.” And yet, underlying every piece of legislation is an explicit or implicit ethics position. While it cannot be said a priori the extent to which the ethical dimensions of legislation has been adequately weighed, there is ample anecdotal evidence that suggests that ethics is frequently compromised for political expediency. In this way, the demands of financing political campaigns and the pressures from self-serving interest groups may enfeeble the democratic process by exerting undue influence on the legislature.

Ethics is not an exact science. Indeed, among ethicists, adherents of particular schools of thought may wrangle fervently among themselves regarding philosophical minutiae. Nevertheless, it can also be persuasively argued that foundational ethical principles, such as justice and human rights, rise above the contingencies of political systems, social class, or cultural norms and, for this reason, international law is possible and unjust laws can be criticized. At AEG, we are not claiming to have privileged access to absolute truth. Rather, we seek to offer a thoughtful, deliberate analysis of issues according to widely recognized ethical principles. Our goal is to try to give voice to a common good that is fully respectful of the legitimate interests of the individual or group without succumbing to egocentric self-interests.

The changing nature of public education, fair access to health care and public services, the interpretation of justice as applied to contemporary issues, the effects of globalization on economic development and community interests, and issues of war and peace are a few examples of the areas of concern of AEG. These are not issues that can be settled once and for all. We are not seeking to close the book, but to open it recognizing the limitations of our understanding, and appreciative that the world has much to teach us if we are willing to listen and engage with it in a spirit of respect, love, and open-minded dialog.

Besides domestic and international policies, another matter of particular concern to Applied Ethics is economic development. We live in a period in which the plates of economic power are undergoing unprecedented tectonic shifts. But while the 21st century engines of economic growth are emerging from the rubble of earlier economic desolation, development is anything but even. How can we work toward creating a global community that is more responsive to the needs of all our fellow brothers and sisters around the world? How to balance the individual, local, and global concerns is one of the great ethical concerns that underlies our work.