1. The Moral Responsibilities of Policy Professionals

2. Mark Carl Rom Professional Ethics n The ethics of: >Individual responsibility (i.e., the problems of ‘many hands’) >Administrative discretion >Policy advising

3. Mark Carl Rom Professional Ethics n Two main possibilities for reform: >Improve individual ethics Inculcate ethical values through training >Improve ethical systems Create standards that support and enforce ethical decisions

4. Mark Carl Rom Moral Responsibility of Public Officials (Thompson) n What is the problem of many hands? >Collective responsibility >Hierarchical responsibility n When do individuals bear responsibility? >Your actions or omissions cause the outcome >Your actions/omissions are not done through compulsions or ignorance n Question: Did McNamara fulfill his collective and hierarchical responsibilities?

5. Mark Carl Rom The Ethics of Discretion (Warwick) n Question: How should you make decisions given administrative discretion? >Public orientation >Reflective choice >Veracity >Procedural respect >Restraint on means n Question: What is the ‘public good’ n Question: Did McNamara use administrative discretion wisely?

6. Mark Carl Rom Ethics of Administrative Discretion (Thompson) n Ethics of neutrality >Administrators should follow principles of organization, not their own principles? No: Exit, loyalty, voice or resistance n Ethics of structure >Organization, not administrators, should be responsible for policies? No: Moral culpability of individuals n Did McNamara follow the ethics of neutrality and structure?

7. Mark Carl Rom The Moral Responsibility of Policy Advisors (McPherson) n What obligations do advisors have? >To serve superiors honestly >To promote better policies >To respect and improve democratic processes n Question: Did McNamara fulfill his moral responsibilities as an advisor?

8. Mark Carl Rom Ethical Responsibilities: Conclusions n Should we work to improve >Individuals? >Systems? >Both? If so, which one deserves our highest priority? n Note…ethical perfection is not possible…but progress towards it is.