Concluding Thoughts

Two Predominant Ethical Perspectives Utilitarian (Consequentialist) Duties/Rights (Deontological)

Clarification of Ethical Standards for: Determining right choice in cases illustrating ethical dilemmas in public action Determining right policy in cases illustrating moral controversies over public policy

Exploration of Applied Ethics in Process of Policy Making Problem of Dirty Hands Truth and evasions Personal responsibility in government (loyalty/whistle-blowing/resignation) Ethical use of violence

Exploration of Applied Ethics in Defining of Public Interest/Public Good Efficiency Justice/Fairness Liberty

Is it Necessary to Reason Morally to Make Public Policy Choices? The “Liberal” Political Theory case for government neutrality – permit individuals to pursue their own choices Neutrality and Surrogate Motherhood

Neutrality and Same Sex Marriage Many people hold deep-seated religious, moral, and ethical convictions that marriage should be limited to the union of one man and one woman, an that homosexual conduct is immoral Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court

Neutrality and Same Sex Marriage Many hold equally strong religious, moral, and ethical convictions that same sex couples are entitled to be married and that homosexual persons should be treated no differently than their heterosexual neighbors. Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court

Neutrality and Same Sex Marriage Let churches and of other religious institutions offer marriage ceremonies. Let department stores and casinos get into the act if they want to. Le couples celebrate their union in any way they choose and consider themselves married whenever they want. Michael Kinsley

Neutrality and Same Sex Marriage And if three people want to get married, or if one person wants to marry himself or herself and someone wants to conduct a ceremony for them and declare them married, let them. If you or your government are not implicated, what do you care? Michael Kinsley

Neutrality and Same Sex Marriage In a real sense, there are three partners in every civil marriage: two willing spouses and an approving state. Civil marriage is at once a deeply personal commitment and a highly public celebration of the ideals of mutuality, companionship, intimacy, fidelity, and family.

Neutrality and Same Sex Marriage Not procreation, but the exclusive and permanent commitment of the partners to one another is the essential point and purpose of marriage. Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court

Is it Possible to Reason Morally –Not one rule, but a process of interactive reasoning between ethical criteria and particular cases –The process of Socratic Dialogue –Why continue argument if it raises questions that are ultimately impossible to resolve? –Because we live some answer to these questions in our public and personal lives. – DialogueKant’s -- “essence of being human” –Necessity of drawing ethical distinctions –Assessment of all relevant arguments