The Public Policy of Skepticism

In: Perspectives on politics: a political science public sphere, Band 2, Heft 1, S. 39-53

Abstract

Drawing on the thought of political philosopher Michael Oakeshott, we present a framework for thinking about public policy rooted in a balancing of what Oakeshott called the poles of "faith" & "skepticism." This approach takes seriously the maintenance of institutional forms in policy making, seeks to preserve order while maintaining social diversity, is sensitive to the likelihood of unintended consequences, & eschews the attempt to produce ideal end states, emphasizing instead remedying specific defects in existing arrangements. While it has some affinities with libertarianism & modern conservatism, this approach places less emphasis on limiting the scope of governmental interventions & more on shaping their character. Specific case studies of education, public health, & Social Security flesh out this argument, demonstrating that it differs from contemporary conservatism, libertarianism, & liberalism. 31 References. Adapted from the source document.