Ethical Decision Making in Government

Catalog description

This course familiarizes students with a set of concepts, frameworks, and approaches for reasoning, arguing, and writing about the normative issues that confront public administrators. We will connect concepts from political philosophy and applied ethics - including utility, liberty, justice, rights, and deliberative democracy - to assess real-world challenges facing government administrators. The course also addresses why ethical failures occur by explaining such concepts as administrative evil, lying, blind spots, moral hazard, and how deviancy is justified. Last, students will understand the various ways of combating unethical behavior, to include whistleblowing, inspectors general, and expressing loyal dissent. Prerequisite: PUB 210 or legal studies minor. Offered Alternate Years.