Small Steps Toward Justice: A Review of Clark Forsythe’s Politics for the Greatest Good

Michael J. New writes at Public Discourse: “Today, when we speak of “prudence” we often mean sheer pragmatism or simple cautious moderation. In reality, it is neither of these things. Prudence is making good decisions and implementing them effectively. In his book [Politics for the Greatest Good,] Clarke Forsythe, Senior Counsel at Americans United for Life, uses insights from philosophy and history to restore a rightful understanding of the virtue of prudence. In so doing, Forsythe offers powerful advice for current political activists—particularly those involved with the pro-life movement . . . Those promoting this strategy of incrementalism have always argued that it will advance the long term goal of providing legal protection for all unborn children. However, this strategy of incrementalism has still been controversial. Some pro-lifers feel that the passage of incremental laws regulating abortion legitimizes the practice of abortion. Some also think that incremental legislation providers political cover for elected officials who want to court pro-life voters while still keeping abortion legal.”