AGGREGATION AND DELIBERATION IN VALUING ENVIRONMENTAL PUBLIC-GOODS - A LOOK BEYOND CONTINGENT PRICING

Starting from a distinction between Kantian (principle-based) and util itarian (preference-based) approaches in political theory, this essay argues that we may understand normative judgments individuals make abo ut policy to express principled views of the public interest or purpos e not private preferences about their own consumption opportunities. T hese judgments, in other words, state opinions about what we ought to do as a society rather than into account these kinds of judgments-whic h dominate public discourse about the environment-only if it moves tow ard a deliberative, discursive, jury-like research method emphasizing informed discussion leading toward a consensus based on an argument ab out the public interest. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.