A Public Ethics of Care

This chapter introduces the ethics of care to the research area of public ethics. The author accordingly introduces the concept of a public ethics of care (PEC) understood as a general, public ethics intended to facilitate policy formation and implementation. The chapter starts by defining PEC, noting four interesting and central notions, namely interdependence, significance of relationships, responsibility and context sensitivity. PEC can be thought of as a source of norms that: (1) encourage policymakers to design policies and institutions in line with PEC goals; and (2) encourage public employees to make judgements in line with PEC goals. Highlighting the importance of relationships in a well-functioning society, PEC emphasizes something overlooked by other theories informing public ethics approaches. As the consequences of policy decisions affecting the environment might not be evident today, but only in the future, the application of PEC would be appropriate as it reinforces a long-term outlook.