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Articles

Presidential Decision-Making: Utilitarianism vs Duty Ethics

Michael Rockler compares two ethics of statemanship for two American presidents.

United States presidents, beginning with George Washington in his policy regarding the French Revolution, right up to George W. Bush’s decisions affecting terrorism and the war in Iraq, have had to face ethical questions of great importance. The historical evaluation of a presidency – whether or not is has been successful – is often based on the way in which the president approached moral dilemmas.

This article looks at presidential decisions in the administrations of Abraham Lincoln and Harry S. Truman.

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