Dennis Frank Thompson
Encyclopedia
Dennis Frank Thompson is a political scientist
and professor at Harvard University
, where he founded the university-wide Center for Ethics and the Professions (now the Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics). Thompson is known for his pioneering work in the field of political ethics
and democratic theory.
Thompson is a leading proponent of the institutional approach to political ethics, which gives less attention to individual vices (such as greed and sexual misconduct) and more to institutional ones (such as abuse of power and neglect of accountability). The approach has stimulated new work on institutional corruption. His proposal to establish an independent body to regulate congressional ethics has been widely endorsed, though not by many members of the United States Congress
. However, in March 2008 the U.S. House created a pared down version of such a body--the Office of Congressional Ethics
. His work on democratic theory (some of it co-authored with Amy Gutmann
) has been influential in promoting the idea of deliberative democracy
, which calls for more reasoned discourse in public life.
Thompson has served as a consultant to the Joint Ethics Committee of the South African Parliament, the American Medical Association
, the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Ethics, the Office of Personnel Management
, and the Department of Health and Human Services. In 1990-91, he worked closely with Robert S. Bennett
, then the Special Counsel for the Senate Ethics Committee in the investigation of the so-called “Keating Five
.” Thompson also served for ten years as a member of the Board of Trustees of Smith College
, the last five as vice-chair. In 2007, Thompson retired as director of the Edmond J. Safra Foundation Center for Ethics. His successor is Lawrence Lessig
a prominent law professor who had been a Fellow in the Center ten years earlier. He is a fellow of the Hastings Center
, an independent bioethics research institution.
in 1962 and won a Fulbright Fellowship
to Oxford University, where he took a “first” in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics
. He went on to earn a Ph.D. in political science from Harvard in 1968. He taught for 18 years at Princeton University
before returning to Harvard as the Alfred North Whitehead
Professor in 1986. At Harvard, he served as Associate Provost (1996–2001) and the Senior Adviser to Lawrence Summers
, the President of the University (from 2001–04).
In 1986, with the support of then President Derek Bok, Thompson created the Ethics Center to encourage more and better teaching and research in ethical issues in the professions and public life. More than 200 Fellows, faculty and graduate students selected from universities throughout the nation and several foreign countries, have completed a year in the Center. Although the Center has helped many other universities establish similar programs, the ethics movement has not been without its critics, some of whom argue that in college and professional school it is too late to teach people to be ethical.
Thompson’s first book on democratic theory, The Democratic Citizen: Social Science and Democratic Theory in the 20th Century, published in 1970, was one of the first to relate contemporary social science to theories of democracy. His major book on deliberative democracy
, Democracy and Disagreement, co-authored with Amy Gutmann, still provokes controversy, including an entire book of critics and defenders (Deliberative Politics, edited by Stephen Macedo
). Some critics argue that deliberative democracy is biased in favor of political elites. Defenders believe that more and better political deliberation can help all citizens.
Thompson has worked to apply the ideas of deliberative democracy to such institutions as the U.S. electoral process
, the South Africa
n Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the British Columbia Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform
, and the healthcare bodies in the United Kingdom
.
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
and professor at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, where he founded the university-wide Center for Ethics and the Professions (now the Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics). Thompson is known for his pioneering work in the field of political ethics
Ethics
Ethics, also known as moral philosophy, is a branch of philosophy that addresses questions about morality—that is, concepts such as good and evil, right and wrong, virtue and vice, justice and crime, etc.Major branches of ethics include:...
and democratic theory.
Thompson is a leading proponent of the institutional approach to political ethics, which gives less attention to individual vices (such as greed and sexual misconduct) and more to institutional ones (such as abuse of power and neglect of accountability). The approach has stimulated new work on institutional corruption. His proposal to establish an independent body to regulate congressional ethics has been widely endorsed, though not by many members of the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
. However, in March 2008 the U.S. House created a pared down version of such a body--the Office of Congressional Ethics
Office of Congressional Ethics
The Office of Congressional Ethics , established by the U.S. House of Representatives in March 2008, is an independent, non-partisan entity charged with reviewing allegations of misconduct against members of the House of Representatives and their staff and, when appropriate, referring matters to...
. His work on democratic theory (some of it co-authored with Amy Gutmann
Amy Gutmann
Amy Gutmann is the eighth President of the University of Pennsylvania and the Christopher H. Browne Distinguished Professor of Political Science, Communications, and Philosophy...
) has been influential in promoting the idea of deliberative democracy
Deliberative democracy
Deliberative democracy is a form of democracy in which public deliberation is central to legitimate lawmaking. It adopts elements of both consensus decision-making and majority rule. Deliberative democracy differs from traditional democratic theory in that authentic deliberation, not mere...
, which calls for more reasoned discourse in public life.
Thompson has served as a consultant to the Joint Ethics Committee of the South African Parliament, the American Medical Association
American Medical Association
The American Medical Association , founded in 1847 and incorporated in 1897, is the largest association of medical doctors and medical students in the United States.-Scope and operations:...
, the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Ethics, the Office of Personnel Management
Office of Personnel Management
The United States Office of Personnel Management is an independent agency of the United States government that manages the civil service of the federal government. The current Director is John Berry.-History:...
, and the Department of Health and Human Services. In 1990-91, he worked closely with Robert S. Bennett
Robert S. Bennett
Robert S. Bennett is an American attorney best known for representing President Bill Clinton during the Lewinsky scandal. Bennett is also famous for representing Judith Miller in the Valerie Plame CIA leak grand jury investigation case, Caspar Weinberger, the U.S...
, then the Special Counsel for the Senate Ethics Committee in the investigation of the so-called “Keating Five
Keating Five
The Keating Five were five United States Senators accused of corruption in 1989, igniting a major political scandal as part of the larger Savings and Loan crisis of the late 1980s and early 1990s. The five senators – Alan Cranston , Dennis DeConcini, John Glenn , John McCain , and Donald W. Riegle,...
.” Thompson also served for ten years as a member of the Board of Trustees of Smith College
Smith College
Smith College is a private, independent women's liberal arts college located in Northampton, Massachusetts. It is the largest member of the Seven Sisters...
, the last five as vice-chair. In 2007, Thompson retired as director of the Edmond J. Safra Foundation Center for Ethics. His successor is Lawrence Lessig
Lawrence Lessig
Lawrence "Larry" Lessig is an American academic and political activist. He is best known as a proponent of reduced legal restrictions on copyright, trademark, and radio frequency spectrum, particularly in technology applications, and he has called for state-based activism to promote substantive...
a prominent law professor who had been a Fellow in the Center ten years earlier. He is a fellow of the Hastings Center
Hastings Center
The Hastings Center, founded in 1969, is an independent, non-partisan, non-profit bioethics research institute based in the United States. It is dedicated to the examination of essential questions in health care, biotechnology, and the environment...
, an independent bioethics research institution.
Biography
Thompson graduated from the College of William and MaryCollege of William and Mary
The College of William & Mary in Virginia is a public research university located in Williamsburg, Virginia, United States...
in 1962 and won a Fulbright Fellowship
Fulbright Program
The Fulbright Program, including the Fulbright-Hays Program, is a program of competitive, merit-based grants for international educational exchange for students, scholars, teachers, professionals, scientists and artists, founded by United States Senator J. William Fulbright in 1946. Under the...
to Oxford University, where he took a “first” in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics
Philosophy, Politics, and Economics
Philosophy, politics, and economics is a popular interdisciplinary undergraduate/graduate degree which combines study from the three disciplines...
. He went on to earn a Ph.D. in political science from Harvard in 1968. He taught for 18 years at Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
before returning to Harvard as the Alfred North Whitehead
Alfred North Whitehead
Alfred North Whitehead, OM FRS was an English mathematician who became a philosopher. He wrote on algebra, logic, foundations of mathematics, philosophy of science, physics, metaphysics, and education...
Professor in 1986. At Harvard, he served as Associate Provost (1996–2001) and the Senior Adviser to Lawrence Summers
Lawrence Summers
Lawrence Henry Summers is an American economist. He served as the 71st United States Secretary of the Treasury from 1999 to 2001 under President Bill Clinton. He was Director of the White House United States National Economic Council for President Barack Obama until November 2010.Summers is the...
, the President of the University (from 2001–04).
In 1986, with the support of then President Derek Bok, Thompson created the Ethics Center to encourage more and better teaching and research in ethical issues in the professions and public life. More than 200 Fellows, faculty and graduate students selected from universities throughout the nation and several foreign countries, have completed a year in the Center. Although the Center has helped many other universities establish similar programs, the ethics movement has not been without its critics, some of whom argue that in college and professional school it is too late to teach people to be ethical.
Thompson’s first book on democratic theory, The Democratic Citizen: Social Science and Democratic Theory in the 20th Century, published in 1970, was one of the first to relate contemporary social science to theories of democracy. His major book on deliberative democracy
Deliberative democracy
Deliberative democracy is a form of democracy in which public deliberation is central to legitimate lawmaking. It adopts elements of both consensus decision-making and majority rule. Deliberative democracy differs from traditional democratic theory in that authentic deliberation, not mere...
, Democracy and Disagreement, co-authored with Amy Gutmann, still provokes controversy, including an entire book of critics and defenders (Deliberative Politics, edited by Stephen Macedo
Stephen Macedo
Stephen Macedo is the Director for the Center for Human Values at Princeton University and is also the Laurance S. Rockefeller Professor of Politics.-Education:...
). Some critics argue that deliberative democracy is biased in favor of political elites. Defenders believe that more and better political deliberation can help all citizens.
Thompson has worked to apply the ideas of deliberative democracy to such institutions as the U.S. electoral process
Elections in the United States
The United States has a federal government, with elected officials at the federal , state and local levels. On a national level, the head of state, the President, is elected indirectly by the people, through an Electoral College. In modern times, the electors virtually always vote with the popular...
, the South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the British Columbia Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform
Citizens' Assembly on Electoral Reform (British Columbia)
The Citizens' Assembly on Electoral Reform is a group created by the government of British Columbia, Canada to investigate changes to the provincial electoral system...
, and the healthcare bodies in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Published books
- The Democratic Citizen: Social Science and Democratic Theory in the 20th Century (1970)
- John Stuart Mill and Representative Government (1976)
- Political Ethics and Public Office (1987)
- Ethics in Congress: From Individual to Institutional Corruption (1995)
- Democracy and Disagreement (with Amy Gutmann) (1996)
- Redeeming American Political Thought: Collected Essays of Judith Shklar [with Stanley Hoffman] (1997)
- Truth versus Justice: The Morality of Truth Commissions [with Robert Rotberg] (2000)
- Just Elections: Creating a Fair Electoral Process in the U.S. (2002)
- Why Deliberative Democracy? (with Amy Gutmann) (2004)
- Restoring Responsibility: Ethics in Government, Business and Healthcare (2004)
- Ethics and Politics: Cases and Comments (with Amy Gutmann) (fourth edition, 2005).