Koop as an Exemplar of Moral and Democratic Decision Making

Abstract

This study-examines the problems addressed by Surgeon General C. Everett Koop in order to extract the virtues or values-the moral point of view-embedded in his actions. These are then compared to competing theoretical approaches in public administration ethics to determine the ethicalframe of reference of Koop 's decisions. The analysis reveals that Koop followed a personal ethic as well as a public service ethic. The authors argue that his approach not only makes democratic and moral deliberations possible but in fact defines them. The article concludes with a discussion of the implications of thefindings for ethical theory in public administration.