Truth and consequences

In his 1987 paper “Truth or Consequences,” Dan Brock describes a deep conflict between the goals and virtues of philosophical scholarship public policymaking: whereas former is concerned with search for truth, latter must primarily be promoting good consequences. When philosophers are engaged in policymaking, he argues, they shift their primary goal from truth to consequences—but this has both moral methodological costs. Brock’s argument exemplifies pessimistic, but not uncommon, view possible shape nature applied philosophy. The present paints richer more optimistic picture. It argues that difference theoretical philosophy best understood as choice On contrary, engage forms truth-seeking properly consequences—including consequences practice itself.