Philosophical Implications of Taxpayer Funding for Prison Education

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This paper attempts to address the question of whether it is fair to use US taxpayer dollars on prison education programs. Through a philosophical inquiry from a pragmatist lens and a feminine ethic of care, issues of fairness are clarified. Following the philosophical inquiry, a historical analysis provides some background on the issue of prison history and reform movements in America. Finally, I conclude by briefly highlighting the main arguments in favor of funding prison education programs with US tax payer dollars.