The role of philosophy in public policy
The term ‘ethics’ is widely used in public policy, but sometimes only as shorthand for frameworks, codes, or protocols. The disciplined thinking of academic philosophers and the scrutiny of the principles underpinning social and economic models are rarely visible in political debate or policy development.
We have long supported the engagement of philosophy in wider research. From establishing the Nuffield Council on Bioethics, which puts ‘ethics at the centre of decisions regarding biomedicine and health’, to funding The Deaton Review on inequality in the 21st century, where Professor Debra Satz’s chapter set the philosophical framing for the rest of the report, our work demonstrates how philosophical insight can improve public policy and decision-making.
About this collection
This volume brings together nineteen essays from scholars across the UK, US, and Europe to explore the relationship between philosophy and public life. The authors were free to choose their topic and content, resulting in a rich collection of perspectives on how philosophy and philosophers interact with social science and policy development.
The essays are grouped into three parts:
- Prospects: Exploring what philosophy can contribute to public life
- Reflections: Personal accounts of philosophers engaging with public life
- Interventions: Responses to urgent issues, from climate policy to AI and warfare
Editors
This collection was co-edited by Professor Dave Archard, former chair of the Nuffield Council on Bioethics, and Matt Davies. The volume was inspired by Tim Gardam, former Chief Executive of the Nuffield Foundation.
