8.2 Integration in Public Policy and Collective Moral Decision Making
Public policy is often built on a dominant morality, usually Layer 4 (structural-institutional morality) or Layer 3 (legal and religious authorities). SMH encourages that:
Policy formulation process consider the broader moral spectrum, especially the voices of Layers 1 and 5, such as victim empathy, spiritual narratives, or cosmological visions.
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Deliberative forum designed to accommodate moral conflict between layers (for example: policies related to abortion, euthanasia, or economic redistribution).
Public policy analysis evaluated not only in terms of technocratic effectiveness, but also in terms of the moral balance accommodated between layers.
In this context, SMH can be used moral diagnostic tool public policy: the extent to which a policy conforms to, ignores, or suppresses certain moral dimensions.
8.3 Potential as an Alternative Paradigm in Global Ethics Studies
Theoretically, SMH challenges dominance modern Western ethical framework such as Kohlberg (developmental stages of morality), Rawls (justice as fairness), or Habermas (discourse ethics). All three present a universalistic or procedural approach, however:
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Tends to ignore the power dynamics, value conflicts, and significant metaphysical differences in multicultural societies.
Less sensitive to non-Western moral epistemology (eg: concept mutual cooperation, shame, or divine destiny).
Minimal articulation transcendence and spirituality as an epistemic entity in morality.
