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Stars to Steer By: The Political Impact of Moral Values*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 November 2008

Robert E. Goodin
Robert E. Goodin
Affiliation:
Philosophy, Australian National University
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Abstract

A contrast is often drawn between ethics and expediency in politics; however the contrast might be overdrawn. We can hold firmly to the classical notion that politicians should steer society according to some higher values, while retaining the notion of democratic accountability, just so long as electors see the same stars as political leaders do and are as keen to follow them. There are grounds for thinking that this may well be so, either for broadly utilitarian reasons or for basically idealistic ones.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Public Policy , Volume 9 , Issue 3 , July 1989 , pp. 241 - 259
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1989

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