Value Pluralism and Ethics, Essay Example

In Chapter 4, Svara discusses the philosophical basis of ethical behavior, and how different approaches to determining ethical and moral behavior can be combined to implement the advantages of each approach (2014, pp. 78-79). Along with providing distinct advantages, multiple philosophical approaches to ethical behavior also addresses the notion that ethical and moral values vary across cultures and societies. This approach to moral and ethical study is called value pluralism, which is explored and discussed in Hendrik Wagenaar’s and Michael Spicer’s articles on the necessity of applying value pluralism to the practice of public administration.

Wagenaar and Spicer both say that value pluralism takes into account shared human experience, and that all humans share at least some common values (Spicer, 2014, p. 1012). All humans share some common values, and those values and morals are “embedded in the thousand of social interactions that, together, make up the work of public administrators” (Wagenaar, 2014, p. 1023). Wagenaar argues that we have no choice but to participate and engage in practical and moral judgment in certain situations, and  handling moral conflict in a democratic society is one of the central tasks of public administration (2014, pp. 1026-1027). Spicer reiterates this by pointing out that engaging in the practice of adversarial argument as a means of settling difference is a common value that is broadly shared (2014, p. 1018).

As cited in the text, there are basic moral and ethical principles that are widely accepted across cultures, specifically in Western culture, which is truth telling, promise keeping, sanctity of the individual, sanctity of life and justice (Svara, 2014, p. 68). This is called a principle-based approach to reinforcing duty and ethics (Svara, 2014, pp. 67-69). Principles and values are commonly seen across the human population, and that is why Wagenaar and Spicer defend value pluralism in public administrative practice.

References

Spicer, M. W. (2014). In Defense of Value Pluralism in Public Administration. Administration & Society, 0095399714550855.

Svara, J. H. (2014). The ethics primer for public administrators in government and nonprofit organizations. Jones & Bartlett Publishers.

Wagenaar, H. (2014). The Necessity of Value Pluralism in Administrative Practice A Reply to Overeem. Administration & Society, 0095399714550856.