Mission

The Social Philosophy and Policy Center is dedicated to the examination of public policy issues from a philosophical perspective. The Center is distinctive in its focus upon the ethical aspects of public policy questions. This emphasis reflects the belief that policy questions cannot be addressed adequately by empirical investigation alone. While empirical research can reveal the most efficient policy by which certain public ends can be attained, the validity of those ends remain open to question from an ethical standpoint.

The methodology of the Center is interdisciplinary in that it supports philosophical analysis by scholars whose work is informed primarily by the disciplines of philosophy, economics, jurisprudence, history, and political science. Through many activities and publications, including scholarly conferences, research fellowships, books, and an interdisciplinary journal, the Center disseminates the ideas of these scholars to a wide audience of academics, policy makers, politicians, business persons, representatives of the media, and the general public.