Utilitarianism on the front lines: COVID-19, public ethics, and the “hidden assumption” problem

Abstract How should we think of the preferences citizens? Whereas self-optimal policy is relatively straightforward to produce, socially optimal often requires a more detailed examination. In this paper, identify an issue that has received far too little attention in welfarist modelling public policy, which name “hidden assumptions” problem. Hidden assumptions can be deceptive because they are not expressed explicitly and social planner (e.g. maker, regulator, legislator) may give them critical need. We argue ethical expertise direct role play discourse it hard adopt position on major issues like health or healthcare prioritisation without making contentious about population ethics. then postulate ethicists best situated critically evaluate these hidden assumptions, therefore vital debates.