Taking consumers seriously: Two concepts of consumer sovereignty

摘要: Governments, producers, and international free tradeorganizations like the World Trade Organization (WTO) areincreasingly confronted with consumers who not only buy (or don'tbuy) goods, but also demand that those goods are producedconforming to certain ethical (often diverse) standards. Not onlysafety health belong these ideals, animalwelfare, environmental concerns, labor circumstances, fairtrade. However, this phantom haunts dusty world of social andpolitical philosophy as well. The new concept ``consumersovereignty'' bypasses conceptual dichotomy consumer andcitizen. According narrow liberal response newconstellation, respect food one should conceptualizeconsumer sovereignty right individual toget information on products make his or her ownchoice market products. In conception, thereis a very strong emphasis rules principles tothe autonomy individuals. I argue concepts sufficient forappropriate public policy-making in democratic societies, andthat they enable us identify problems; do helpnon-experts (and experts, if it comes that, well) inweighing different claims. Besides, onlyprinciples play role outcome, all kinds ideals aswell, roles, values, norms. My principal argument isthat analysis justification norms is notsufficient get synthesis construction ethicalsolutions: we need some value orientation guide inbalancing claims by solving an ethicalproblem. Moreover, balancing something requiressocial space time, i.e., debates. With theconcept debates whole dimension enters ethicalanalysis, because attention ethicists shifts toformulating criteria successful rational broad view aresupplemented preferences, practices care, andinvolvement. firstly for broadened perspective foodas integral part life styles thatpresents risks. That reason gets such intensiveattention from public, which summarized ofconsumer concerns. Secondly, defend only(rational) debates, intensive commitments bothproducers every link chain so calledcare councils can enhance confidence thefood production system way extract our daily intakefrom nature.