Ethics and Public affairs

The Ethics and Public Affairs Program (EPAF) at Carleton bridges normative training in ethics and political philosophy with empirical training in public policy making and analysis. It offers doctoral students the chance to combine ethical reasoning with social scientific research to gain a comprehensive understanding of the options for solving particular public issues. The program is a collaboration between philosophers who research public issues and social science and public policy specialists with interests and expertise in the values underlying those issues.

The EPAF faculty is composed of moral and political philosophers, legal scholars, and social scientists from economics, sociology, political science, and public policy. Many of our students have MAs in philosophy and intend to shift into research related roles in the public sector, while others have worked with the federal government and want to pursue advanced research with normative foundations. Our graduates are all employed in academic, public sector, and non-profit sector jobs.

As Director of EPAF I am thrilled to be able to helm such a unique program with philosophical foundations and a policy orientation, and as a core faculty member, I am grateful for the opportunity to supervisor the fascinating interdisciplinary and innovative work of my doctoral students.

Information about program requirements, core courses, and core faculty, and current students can be found on the EPAF site.

Doctoral Supervision in Ethics and Public Affairs at Carleton

Kerry O’Neill

“Cash or Conditions: An Analysis of Conditional Cash Transfer Programs,” co-supervisor Lisa Mills, Public Policy and Administration, Carleton. Defended August 9, 2021. 2016-2021

Locky Butcher

“MAiD and Mental Illness,” co-Supervisor: Diana Young, Law, Carleton. ABD. 2020-

Ari Williams

“Trans Justice and Public Health Care,” co-supervisor: Julia Sinclair-Palm, Childhood and Youth Studies, Carleton. ABD. 2020-

Gloria Sanchez-Cuervas

“Basic Income or Basic Services: Philosophy and Overlapping Consensus,” co-supervisor: Jennifer Robson, Political Science, Carleton. 2021-

Evan Mackie

“Autonomy, Social Policy, and Public Health,” co-supervisor James A. Anderson, Health Policy, University of Toronto. ABD. 2021-

Megan Bailey

“Health Justice and the Canadian Carceral System,” Co-supervisor: Aaron Doyle, Sociology, Carleton. 2022 -