A Less Perfect Union

Perspect Biol Med. 2020;63(4):616-622. doi: 10.1353/pbm.2020.0050.

Abstract

This is a daunting time, not only in terms of our public health and our economic health but also in terms of the health of the republic. It is an old theme that any form of popular government needs virtuous citizens if it is to survive. It also needs citizens to agree on what counts as a virtue. I fear that the pandemic has shown that "We, the people" do not agree, and this shows what we already knew, that there are profound cracks in our union.

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19 / economics*
  • COVID-19 / epidemiology*
  • Decision Making
  • Humans
  • Pandemics
  • Philosophy, Medical
  • Politics*
  • Public Health*
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Virtues*