GOODPOL (What is a Good Policy? Political Morality, Feasibility, and Democracy.) is an interdisciplinary project hosted by the Centre for Advanced Study (CAS) at The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters. From 31 May to 2 June 2021, CAS hosted a series of public lectures to mark the end of its first year of activities. Speakers Simone Chambers, Samantha Besson, and Keith Dowding shared their reflections on GOODPOL’s research topics in three digital webinars.
Keith Dowding, “Moral Expertise” (31 May 2021):
Prof. Dowding’s lecture concerned the role of the moral expert. Experts are often looked to for advice and guidance in their fields of expertise: they have knowledge on specific subjects that exceed our own, and we follow their advice based on our trust in their expertise. Today, governments and organizations increasingly look for guidance on ethical issues. Yet, are we justified in trusting the guidance of experts when it comes to ethical issues? If taking moral responsibility means grasping the moral reasons justifying one’s actions for oneself, what is the role of the moral expert? In this digital seminar, Prof. Dowding discussed these and other questions surrounding moral expertise.
Samantha Besson, “A Good Government Standard for International Organizations” (1 June 2021):
Prof. Besson discussed what the good government standard could mean in international law today, focusing particularly on international organizations. As there is little minimal public law common to these organizations, they are currently merely expected – not required under international law – to give evidence of “good governance” standards. Prof. Besson discussed the “alleged publicness of these organizations of international law”, and the implications that this has in legal and institutional terms.
Simone Chambers, “Wrecking the Public Sphere: The New Authoritarians’ Attack on Pluralism and Truth” (3 June 2021):
In this seminar, Prof. Chambers analyzed the new-authoritarians’ attack on pluralism and truth in the public sphere. The public sphere performs important functions in society: it facilitates the circulation of information citizens use to form their opinions, and acts as an agent of democratic accountability. Prof. Chambers argued that the new-authoritarians currently attack the public sphere, attempting to destroy its ability to perform these functions. Two main strategies are common: undermining trust in facts and encouraging circulation of disinformation, and undermining the power of criticism and dissent – especially from the press and from minority opposition. In such ways, the new-authoritarians can present themselves as strong defenders of democracy through elections and voting, while at the same time attacking what makes elections and voting democratic in the first place.