Chapter 1 Ethics, Population and the American Tradition by Task Force on Ethics and Population Institute of Society, Ethics and the Life Sciences Hastings-on-Hudson, New York ACKNOWLEDGMENTS We would like to thank Eunice Corfman, Bethesda, Maryland; Emily C. Moore, The Population Council, New York, New York; and Nancy Williamson, Department of Social Relations, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, for their research contributions; and Robert C. Neville, Willard Gaylin, M.D., and Marc Lappé of the Institute for their general help in the final stages of our work. COMMISSION ON POPULATION GROWTH AND THE AMERICAN FUTURE; RESEARCH REPORTS, VOLUME VI, ASPECTS OF POPULATION GROWTH POLICY, EDITED BY ROBERT PARKE, JR. AND CHARLES F. WESTOFF ABSTRACT What have been the historical patterns of development of American values which influence present and future problems which may be posed by population growth, distribution, migration, and immigration? What are the present ethical values and principles of different political-cultural and professional groups within American society which, either manifestly or latently, have a stance toward population? What are the systematic ethical problems which population growth, distribution, migration, and immigration pose? How can one ethically evaluate potential alternative solutions to problems posed by population? What likely legal and political developments between now and the year 2000 might change the "ethical equation" and how? To answer these questions, this study examines the philosophical and ethical significance and meaning of four key values-freedom, justice, the general welfare, and security/survival-and discusses their place in American tradition and their likely place in the future. The special values of a range of critical subgroups in American society are also examined to determine their concerns, priorities, and the inner logic of their ethical evaluation of population policy issues and proposals. An attempt is then made to devise a variety of ethical norms and alternative criteria for evaluating different population policies, and to examine specific policy proposals in the light of these norms, pointing out the ethical implications and likely consequences for ethical acceptability-to the tradition as a whole and to particular groups within the society. While this study represents a general consensus of the Task Force, this is not to be construed as implying a detailed agreement on every item among those who have composed it. It is difficult enough for two individuals to agree on matters of ethics and population; perfect agreement among more than that number is not likely to be achieved in this or any other world. Members of the Task Force on Ethics and Population included the following: Peter G. Brown, The Urban Institute, Washington, D.C. Daniel Callahan, Director, Institute of Society, Ethics and the Life Sciences, Hastings-on-Hudson, New York |