Does Teaching Ethics do any Good?

On May 1, 2014, the Center for Ethics in Society hosted a panel discussion as part of its 25th Anniversary celebrations. The discussion was moderated by Debra Satz, the faculty director of the Center for Ethics in Society. Panelists Barbara H. Fried (law), Benoît Monin (psychology, organizational behavior), and Tamar Schapiro (philosophy) explored the question of whether teaching ethics does any good.

Stanford recently adopted an ethics requirement for all undergraduates. For the first time, every Stanford student will need to confront big questions. What is the difference between law and morality? What obligations do we have to others? Does Homer's idea of honor have any bearing for me? Is it ever acceptable to lie? Should genetic enhancements be permissible? Are torture and drones legitimate means to use in war?

The panelists considered what an ethics requirement can accomplish. Can learning ethics make a person more ethical, and if so, how? If learning ethics is not closely linked to acting ethically, what other purposes might it accomplish?

See photos from the event here: https://flic.kr/s/aHsjXQAYqb

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The McCoy Family Center for Ethics in Society is committed to bringing ethical reflection to bear on important social problems through research, teaching, and engagement. Visit the Center's website for more information: http://ethicsinsociety.stanford.edu

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