Syllabus

Policy Choice as Value Conflict

PPS 116, Fall 2006
Mondays and Wednesdays, 2:50-4:05pm
03 Sanford Institute Building
Duke University

Robert Korstad
rkorstad@duke.edu
Office Hours: Mondays and Wednesdays, 1:30-2:30pm
Tuesday by Appointment
Room 112 Sanford Institute
613-7335

Teaching Assistants:
Emily Hanawalt, eeh7@duke.edu
Paul GolaszewskiKenzie Strong, pmg7@duke.edu

Introduction:

In this course, we shall examine the nature and persuasiveness of many different arguments about ethics and public policy. The aims of this course are: (1) to examine the underpinnings and implications of basic moral concepts; (2) to apply such concepts to policy conflicts; and (3) to help students develop more sophisticated understandings and justifications of various moral commitments. The course provides regular exercises designed to give students the opportunity to reflect upon important issues in ethics and public policy through reading, writing, and discussion.

Required texts:
I. Books:
Ethics: A Pluralistic Approach to Moral Theory by Lawrence M. Hinman
Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America by Barbara Ehrenreich
These books are available for purchase at the University Store in the Bryan Center.

II. Articles:
All articles are available on e-reserve or by a link to the internet.

Course requirements:
I. Four reaction papers (@ 250-300 words) on Ethics: A Pluralistic Approach to Moral Theory (10% of the final grade)

The aims of these assignments are to familiarize you with the issues raised in the readings, to help you develop and articulate a point of view, and to prepare you to discuss the issues with your classmates. These papers should be critical engagements with the moral philosophy discussed in each chapter and should display original thinking. They should not be mere summaries of the readings, though they should of course demonstrate a firm grasp of the readings. The papers should be somewhat academic in tone, more concerned with intellectual issues and less focused on contemporary applications. You are responsible for submitting papers for four of the five sessions devoted to this book.

*****Assignments are due at the beginning of the class period. No late papers, electronic submissions, or papers turned in by a classmate will be accepted. You must be in class for your submission to be accepted.

II. In-Class-Exam on Ethics: A Pluralistic Approach to Moral Theory (15% of the final grade)

III. Five policy essays (@1000 words) on topics in Part II (55% of the final grade)
These papers should reflect your own opinions on the issues raised in the readings and discussions. Think of them as long op-ed pieces. Your grade will be determined by the best five grades out of six possible submissions.

To help you to write these papers, I will ask you to post a brief (250 words) reaction to each class in part II. These are due by 8:00 a.m. the day of class. These postings will give me an idea of what you are thinking about the readings and will be the foundation for an extended discussion on Blackboard and in the discussion groups. Students can also use the forum to respond to readings or class discussions or to share articles about the issues raised during the semester. Although the teaching assistants and the professor will read the messages, they will not engage in the electronic discussions. This is a space for students to communicate with one another. This is an especially effective method of communication for students who have difficulty speaking in class.

Due dates for papers:
October 4: Health Policy
October 18: Media Policy
October 29: Global Policy
November 12: Economic Policy
November 29: Social policy
December 8: Environmental Policy

IV. Discussion participation (20% of the final grade)
Each student will be responsible for leading one discussion section. Discussion sections begin the first week of the term. The teaching assistants will meet with the discussion sections each week, but a student will be responsible for facilitating the discussion. The discussion leader will post questions to guide the discussion by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday. Students should come to the weekly sections prepared to engage in discussion of the issues covered in the week’s readings.

There are ten meetings of the discussion sections. Each student is allowed to miss two sessions, whether for reasons of sickness, university athletic participation, or just something better to do. Each subsequent absence will result in a 10% reduction of the final discussion grade.

Participation in the class discussions and the forum on Blackboard are required. Attendance will be taken each class period. The class meets 28 times. You can miss 4 classes without penalty. Each subsequent absence will result in a 10% reduction of the final participation grade. You should try to respond to the forum discussion at least once a week.

General notes:
We will discuss many controversial issues in this course. Students must strive to take part in the discussions, however heated, in a manner that displays fair mindedness and mutual respect. Any students who have difficulty speaking before others should discuss the problem with the professor and try to work it out rather than simply accepting a poor grade for participation as inevitable.

Students must observe the Honor Code in all their work for the course. Any student who has questions about what the Honor Code demands in any given situation should not hesitate to consult with the professor. Students should retain copies of all their assignments after submitting them. Students should also retain returned, graded assignments until they have officially received a final grade for the course.

August 28: Introduction

Part I: Perspectives on Moral Philosophy

August 30: Chapters 1-2 in Ethics: A Pluralistic Approach to Moral Theory
September 1: Discussion Sections

September 4: Chapter 3-4 in Ethics: A Pluralistic Approach to Moral Theory
September 6: Chapter 5 in Ethics: A Pluralistic Approach to Moral Theory
September 8: Discussion Sections

September 11: Chapters 6 in Ethics: A Pluralistic Approach to Moral Theory
September 13: Chapters 7-8 in Ethics: A Pluralistic Approach to Moral Theory
September 15: Discussion Sections

September 18: Chapters 9-12 in Ethics: A Pluralistic Approach to Moral Theory
September 20: Exam

Part II: Ethical Issues in Public Policy

Value Conflicts in Health Policy

September 25:
Guest Lecturer (TBA)
Reading:
N.E. Kass, “An Ethics Framework for Public Health”
http://www.ajph.org/cgi/reprint/91/11/1776

N. Kenny & M. Giacomini, “Wanted: A New Ethics Field for Health Policy
Analysis”
http://springerlink.metapress.com/content/p14u51158h16nt18/fulltext.pdf

D. Vaero, “Health Inequalities as Policy Issues—Reflection on Ethics, Policy, and
Public Health
http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/links/doi/10.1111%2F1467-9566.ep10934470

Case Study: National Health Insurance

September 27: Debate on National Health Insurance Bill (HR 676)
Reading:
http://www.pnhp.org/
http://www.ranknfile-ue.org/polact_isu_healthinsuranceact.html
http://www.healthcare-now.org/
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/10874.html
http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=6243

September 29: Discussion Sections

October 2: Discussion and Vote on National Health Insurance Bill (HR 676)

October 4: Papers due on Health Policy

Value Conflicts in Media Policy

October 4: Guest Lecturer: Professor Jay Hamilton
Reading:
Martin Hirst and Roger Patching, “The Dialectic in Journalism: Ethics and Philosophy”
Explore “Journalism Ethics Cases Online” (http://www.journalism.indiana.edu/gallery/Ethics/)

October 6: No Discussion Sections—Fall Break

October 9: NO CLASS—Fall Break

Case Study: Media & National Security

October 11:
Reading:
C.C. Gauthier, “Right to Know, Press Freedom, Public Discourse”
A. Clymer, Journalism, Security, and the Public Interest. Free download at The Aspen Institute Bookstore (www.aspeninstitute.org)
S.D. Cooper, “Press Controls in Wartime: The Legal, Historical, and Institutional Context”

October13: Discussion Sections

October 16:
Reading:
D. McCollam, “The End of Ambiguity”
Dante Chinni, “National security vs. freedom of the press”
Linda Feldmann, “Amid war on terror, a war with the press”
Brent Budowsky, “A July 4th Call to Arms -- To Protect the 4th Estate”

October 18: Papers due on Media Policy

Value Conflicts in Global Policy

October 18: Guest Lecturer (TBA)
Reading:
Brian Orend, “War” http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/war/
Michael Walzer, Chapters 1-3 in Just and Unjust Wars

Case Study: War

October 20: Discussion Sections
Viewing: 10:30 & 12:30
The Fog of War

October 23: Vietnam
Discussion on The Fog of War

October 25: Iraq and the Middle East
Reading:
Michael Novak, “’Asymmetrical Warfare’& Just War”
http://www.nationalreview.com/novak/novak021003.asp
Michael Walzer, “Five on Iraq”
George Caffentzis, “No Blood for Oil”
Michael Walzer, “War Fair”
Mark A. LeVine, “Michael Walzer’s Tortured Ethics”

October 27: Discussion Sections

October 29: Papers due on Global Policy

Value Conflicts in Economic Policy

October 30: Guest Lecturer (TBA)
Reading:
Rebecca M. Blank, “Poverty, Policy and Ethics: Can an Economist Be Both
Critical and Caring?”
J.Z. Muller, “The Neglected Moral Benefits of the Market”
David Wessel, “Wealth Effect -- Capital: Behind Tax Debate, Issues of Ethics
And Economics --- Bush Plan Pushes Pendulum Toward Greater Efficiency, Gets Heat for Helping Rich --- Robin Hood in Retreat”

Case Study: The Minimum Wage

November 1:
Reading:
Prasch & Sheth, “The Economics and Ethics of Minimum Wage Legislation”

November 3: Discussion Sections

November 6
Reading:
Barbara Ehrenreich, Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America. Pages 1-120

November 8:
Reading:
Barbara Ehrenreich, Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America. Pages 121-227

November 10: Discussion Sections

November 12: Papers due on Economic Policy

Value Conflicts in Social Policy

November 13: Guest Lecturer (TBA)
Reading:
L. Hinman, “The Place of Race, Ethnicity, and Culture in Moral Theory http://ethics.sandiego.edu/lmh/Papers/Race.htm)
I.M. Young, “Equality of Whom? Social Groups and Judgments of Injustice”
Walter Benn Michaels, “The Trouble with Diversity”

Case Study: Affirmative Action in Higher Education

November 15:
Reading:
Steven M. Cahn, “Two Concepts of Affirmative Action”
Thomas E. Hill, Jr., “The Message of Affirmative Action”
Sidney Hook, “Reverse Discrimination”

November 17 Discussion Sections

November 20: Affirmative Action—The Duke Experience
Reading:

November 27: Discussion Section 3: The People Speak on Affirmative Action

November 29: Paper due on social policy

Value Conflicts in Environmental Policy

November 29: Guest Lecturer (TBA)
Reading:
“Environmental Ethics”
http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/ethics-environmental

December 1: Discussion Sections

Case Study: Global Warming

December 4: Is the Globe in Danger?
Viewing: An Inconvenient Truth
Reading:
Jim Hansen, “The Threat to the Planet”
http://www.nybooks.com/articles/19131

D. Jamieson, “Ethics, Public Policy, and Global Warming”

Richard S. Lindzen, “Don't Believe the Hype”
http://www.opinionjournal.com/extra/?id=110008597

December 6:
Continue discussion on global warming

December 8: Papers due on Environmental Policy