Philosophy Administration Studies
Lecture 1 - Introduction
Ethics and Public Policy
Practical public reasoning:
1. Identify and formulate key concepts and principles
2. Identify patterns of argument and systems of thought
3. Evaluate argument strength and terms of justification
All policy actions depend on ethics.
Conceptual clarity
- Value concepts often used ambiguously
o Hampers evaluation and practical application, because the goal is not clear.
o “Freedom to work” -> what does it mean?
o Agreement on definition, but disagreement on necessary conditions is
possible
o
,Descriptive: how things are (or have been)
Normative: how things should be
Ethics
Normative Ethics = theories of normality -> right thing to do
1. Consequentialism
a. The morally good act is that which produces the best consequences
b. Variation -> Utilitarianism: the morally good act is that which maximizes utility
i. “Torture is good because one person suffers to save 100” -> Trolley
problem!!
Problem: To get to the right consequence, one might have to do horrible things
2. Deontology
a. The morally good act is that that which is in accordance with our duties or
obligations, and that respects rights
i. “Torture violates the rights of the terrorist, therefore is morally
wrong”
ii. Treating someone as a means rather than an end, which is morally
wrong.
3. Virtue ethics
a. The morally right act is that which the virtuous person would do -> depends
on what the virtues/vices are.
b. Emphasis on moral character and virtues
i. “Snowden’s actions show his personal integrity”
4. Care ethics
a. The morally right act is that which values and seeks to maintain caring
relationships
b. Considers particulars rather than abstract, impersonal principles
i. “Granting a family asylum after knowing of their consequences”
Meta-ethics
- What kind of statement is ‘lying is wrong’? what makes it true
- Meta = above ethics, more fundamental background theories
1. Realism
a. There is a (universal) fact of the matter
b. Worry: Intolerance -> “no you’re wrong” Different views lead to disagreements
c. Believing doesn’t affect the status of the fact. The earth will always be round.
2. Subjectivism
a. Our preferences -> different than realism
b. Because people believe it, it becomes true. If we all believe lying is wrong, it
becomes wrong.
c. No grounds for criticizing others.
3. Contractarianism
, a. Cultural or political norm, system as social norms. Ethical claims based on
social practise.
b. Contractualism: reasonableness
c. Who is included?
4. Error theory
a. Sceptic – we aim at truth, but systematically get it wrong
b. There is no truth in morality, it is nonsense. Atheist in morality.
c. Counter intuitive
d. Maybe ethics isn’t even real. Stating a moral claim is wrong and a mistake.
Killing is wrong = unicorns are blue.
Child labour:
- Realism: it has always been wrong. We used to think differently, but now we know
better
- Subjectivism: Everyone did it, so it was okay. Now it was wrong, but it used to be fine.
- Contractarianism: It is in the law that child labour is wrong, and therefore it is wrong.
- Error theory: The statement is nonsense. There is no truth/falsity. It doesn’t exist.
The statement isn’t grounded in any way.
Lecture 2 – Freedom I
Formal and Effective Freedom
Why freedom?
Arguments against redistributive policy (taxation, marker regulation, censorship, coercive
laws, etc.) appeal to freedom
Others argue that some social and economic conditions make people unfree
Is this term the same?
The answers on questions about freedom depend on what ‘freedom’ means
Berlins two concepts of liberty
“Two concepts of liberty tied to the great clash of ideologies that dominates our world”
1. Negative freedom (absence)
a. Freedom FROM
i. From obstacles, interference
ii. Desire for free area of action
iii. Associated with Libertarianism
2. Positive freedom (presence)
a. Freedom TO
i. To pursue options, self-realization and development
ii. Desire to be governed by myself or participate in processes that
control my life
iii. Associated with (some) liberalism, Communitarianism, Marxism
Swift disagrees with this 2-way thinking. It is unhelpful. You can phrase something to be
positive or negative. There are three distinctions.
, This is Berlin’s formula
Formal vs Effective Freedom
Formal freedom = absence of interference, restrictions, or obstacles.
X is free from deliberate interference to do z
Some interference is good -> laws restrict the freedom to murder
Interference can be interpreted narrowly (physical restraint) or broadly (threats)
Minimal state: minimize interference in people’s live to only laws necessary to
protect interference.
Effective freedom= having the capacity to act (formal freedom + necessary resources
needed)
X is free from poverty/ lack of recources, education to do Z
Can require access to resources (income, education, medical) that enable capacities.
Swift: are you free to go on an expensive holiday? You need money to board the
plane. Otherwise, you will be detained.
Implications for redistributive taxation?
- Formal: reduce freedom
- Effective: Increase freedom
Meaning of freedom is ambiguous.
Wants and autonomy
Freedom as Doing what one wants
No (external) interference with your acting on your desires
Individuals free from interference from others to act on their wants
Worries: I may have desires that can’t be fulfilled. To avoid defeat, you strive for
nothing you cannot be sure to obtain. Convince yourself you didn’t want it anyway ->
‘adaptive preferences’ = preferences in deprived circumstances are formed in
response to restricted options. This means that you cannot take someone’s wants at
face-value.
Freedom as Autonomy
Being in control of what we want -> setting your own path, setting your own laws
Lecture 1 - Introduction
Ethics and Public Policy
Practical public reasoning:
1. Identify and formulate key concepts and principles
2. Identify patterns of argument and systems of thought
3. Evaluate argument strength and terms of justification
All policy actions depend on ethics.
Conceptual clarity
- Value concepts often used ambiguously
o Hampers evaluation and practical application, because the goal is not clear.
o “Freedom to work” -> what does it mean?
o Agreement on definition, but disagreement on necessary conditions is
possible
o
,Descriptive: how things are (or have been)
Normative: how things should be
Ethics
Normative Ethics = theories of normality -> right thing to do
1. Consequentialism
a. The morally good act is that which produces the best consequences
b. Variation -> Utilitarianism: the morally good act is that which maximizes utility
i. “Torture is good because one person suffers to save 100” -> Trolley
problem!!
Problem: To get to the right consequence, one might have to do horrible things
2. Deontology
a. The morally good act is that that which is in accordance with our duties or
obligations, and that respects rights
i. “Torture violates the rights of the terrorist, therefore is morally
wrong”
ii. Treating someone as a means rather than an end, which is morally
wrong.
3. Virtue ethics
a. The morally right act is that which the virtuous person would do -> depends
on what the virtues/vices are.
b. Emphasis on moral character and virtues
i. “Snowden’s actions show his personal integrity”
4. Care ethics
a. The morally right act is that which values and seeks to maintain caring
relationships
b. Considers particulars rather than abstract, impersonal principles
i. “Granting a family asylum after knowing of their consequences”
Meta-ethics
- What kind of statement is ‘lying is wrong’? what makes it true
- Meta = above ethics, more fundamental background theories
1. Realism
a. There is a (universal) fact of the matter
b. Worry: Intolerance -> “no you’re wrong” Different views lead to disagreements
c. Believing doesn’t affect the status of the fact. The earth will always be round.
2. Subjectivism
a. Our preferences -> different than realism
b. Because people believe it, it becomes true. If we all believe lying is wrong, it
becomes wrong.
c. No grounds for criticizing others.
3. Contractarianism
, a. Cultural or political norm, system as social norms. Ethical claims based on
social practise.
b. Contractualism: reasonableness
c. Who is included?
4. Error theory
a. Sceptic – we aim at truth, but systematically get it wrong
b. There is no truth in morality, it is nonsense. Atheist in morality.
c. Counter intuitive
d. Maybe ethics isn’t even real. Stating a moral claim is wrong and a mistake.
Killing is wrong = unicorns are blue.
Child labour:
- Realism: it has always been wrong. We used to think differently, but now we know
better
- Subjectivism: Everyone did it, so it was okay. Now it was wrong, but it used to be fine.
- Contractarianism: It is in the law that child labour is wrong, and therefore it is wrong.
- Error theory: The statement is nonsense. There is no truth/falsity. It doesn’t exist.
The statement isn’t grounded in any way.
Lecture 2 – Freedom I
Formal and Effective Freedom
Why freedom?
Arguments against redistributive policy (taxation, marker regulation, censorship, coercive
laws, etc.) appeal to freedom
Others argue that some social and economic conditions make people unfree
Is this term the same?
The answers on questions about freedom depend on what ‘freedom’ means
Berlins two concepts of liberty
“Two concepts of liberty tied to the great clash of ideologies that dominates our world”
1. Negative freedom (absence)
a. Freedom FROM
i. From obstacles, interference
ii. Desire for free area of action
iii. Associated with Libertarianism
2. Positive freedom (presence)
a. Freedom TO
i. To pursue options, self-realization and development
ii. Desire to be governed by myself or participate in processes that
control my life
iii. Associated with (some) liberalism, Communitarianism, Marxism
Swift disagrees with this 2-way thinking. It is unhelpful. You can phrase something to be
positive or negative. There are three distinctions.
, This is Berlin’s formula
Formal vs Effective Freedom
Formal freedom = absence of interference, restrictions, or obstacles.
X is free from deliberate interference to do z
Some interference is good -> laws restrict the freedom to murder
Interference can be interpreted narrowly (physical restraint) or broadly (threats)
Minimal state: minimize interference in people’s live to only laws necessary to
protect interference.
Effective freedom= having the capacity to act (formal freedom + necessary resources
needed)
X is free from poverty/ lack of recources, education to do Z
Can require access to resources (income, education, medical) that enable capacities.
Swift: are you free to go on an expensive holiday? You need money to board the
plane. Otherwise, you will be detained.
Implications for redistributive taxation?
- Formal: reduce freedom
- Effective: Increase freedom
Meaning of freedom is ambiguous.
Wants and autonomy
Freedom as Doing what one wants
No (external) interference with your acting on your desires
Individuals free from interference from others to act on their wants
Worries: I may have desires that can’t be fulfilled. To avoid defeat, you strive for
nothing you cannot be sure to obtain. Convince yourself you didn’t want it anyway ->
‘adaptive preferences’ = preferences in deprived circumstances are formed in
response to restricted options. This means that you cannot take someone’s wants at
face-value.
Freedom as Autonomy
Being in control of what we want -> setting your own path, setting your own laws
