Adopting Ethical Reasoning in Policy Processes

This chapter argues that despite institutional limitations green ethical reasoning can be adopted in public policy processes and contribute to well-balanced value conflict management. Complex policy processes require that idealistic discourse ethics is relaxed to acknowledge the importance of individual reflections in ethical reasoning; strategic argumentation; and the possibility of having public ethicists guiding ethical reasoning. The chapter addresses how ethical reasoning can be adopted as an ongoing process, proactive organization, and temporary project. A method for ethical reasoning is suggested: The what’s at stake method (WS-method). Its potential is illustrated by a tentative case of controversial land use.