Dr Amandine Catala.

The course is compulsory for MSc Philosophy and Public Policy and optional for MSc Biomedicine, Bioscience and Society, MSc Economics and Philosophy, MSc Public Policy and Administration, MSc Economics and Philosophy and MPA Public and Economic Policy/MPA Public Policy and Management/MPA International Development/MPA European Public and Economic Policy/MPA Public and Social Policy.

The course offers a critical reflection on how the design and evaluation of public policies is grounded in moral, political and economic theory.

The course consists of three units taught by different faculty:

One of these units investigates theoretical issues underpinning policy decisions, specifically different possible approaches to democratic decision-making. It introduces the 'Democratic Trilemma', i.e. the conflict between three central demands on good democratic procedures- 'coping with pluralism', 'majoritarianism', and 'rationality'. Discussion centres on the merits and demerits of the various types of democracy that result from giving up each of these three demands.

The other two course units consider special philosophical issues arising in particular policy areas - health policy as well as national and international policy. The health policy unit introduces issues of autonomy and paternalism, and the allocation of health resources presses difficult questions regarding the extent to which we should privilege the worst-off. The national and international policy unit examines issues of climate change, poverty measurement, multinational corporations, truth and reconciliation, and secession.

Lectures 20 x one-hour (MT, LT); Seminars PH415.2 20 x one-and-a-half-hour (MT, LT)

Students will be required to give seminar presentations and to write three 2,000-word essays on material from the first 15 weeks.

Detailed reading lists, including specific articles from relevant journals, will be supplied at the beginning of the course.

A two-hour examination on the first 15 weeks (67%), and a 2,000-word essay on the last 5 weeks (33%), to be handed in in the first week of ST.