Public Philosophy

Public philosophy has no univocal meaning. On the one hand, it indicates a set of publicly shared principles and values, which, within a given context, regulate political practices, provide guidance and justification for policy decisions, and orient public debates and individual conduct. On the other hand, public philosophy may be intended as a specific approach to political philosophy, characterized by its primary concern with addressing and clarifying public questions. It is worth noticing that the two meanings tend to overlap and that public philosophy may be employed as a neutral and descriptive expression – indicating principles and values actually embedded in the practices at stake – or it may be attached with a normative and prescriptive significance – designating principles and values that ought to shape the relevant practices.