Examining Ethics

When you picture philosophy, you probably picture dusty books, not a weight room full of teenagers. In the latest episode, Alex talks with philosopher Erik Kenyon (Friends Academy) about his book Philosophy at the Gymnasium, which traces how Greek moral philosophy grew directly out of athletic training. In Athens, the gym wasn't just a place to build strength. It was a hub for civic and moral education, where competition, discipline, and the pursuit of virtue went hand in hand. The conversation asks what sports culture can still teach us about moral growth, and what it might mean to train for virtue the way we train for a heavy lift.

Policing sits at the center of some of our most heated debates about justice, power, and public safety. In the first episode of Season 11, Alex talks with philosopher Jake Monaghan (University of Southern California) about his new book Just Policing. Monaghan makes the case that policing, done right, is not just permissible but morally necessary, even as he confronts its very real capacity for harm and abuse. Drawing on his research into the political philosophy of cities and his hands-on work with police reform and reentry programs, he pushes back against calls to abolish or radically defund police, while still taking seriously the demand for accountability, restraint, and reform.

Modern life runs on rules—some helpful, some… not so much. In this episode, Alex talks with philosopher Barry Lam (UC Riverside) about his new book Fewer Rules, Better People: The Case for Discretion. Lam makes a bold claim: sometimes fewer rules can actually make us better. With sharp insights and real-world stories, he walks us through why giving people more wiggle room might lead to fairer, more humane outcomes. But it’s not all freewheeling freedom—the conversation also digs into the risks of bias and the need for accountability when discretion takes the wheel.

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As a special feature for this Spring, Alex Richardson sits down with the leadership of both the National High School Ethics Bowl and the APPE Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl for a detailed conversation about the activity’s nature and future.

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Our 2024-2025 season continues with a conversation with Rebecca Roache (Royal Holloway, University of London) on her new book, For F*ck's Sake: Why Swearing is Shocking, Rude, and Fun. Here, Roache examines the art, psychology, and moral implications of a good cursing out, ultimately concluding that it isn't the words themselves which are offensive, but what lies between the lines.

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Our 2024-2025 season continues with a conversation with Robert Talisse (Vanderbilt) on his new book, Civic Solitude: Why Democracy Needs Distance. Here, Talisse argues that democracy, in addition to its participatory elements, requires a kind of reflection and capacity building that is best achieved in solitude. He recommends that we rebuild and/or expand public spaces for such development as a potential antidote to some of our own democratic political ills.

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Our 2024-2025 season continues with a conversation with Jeff Sebo (NYU) on his new book, The Moral Circle: Who Matters, What Matters, and Why. Here, Sebo argues that we should prepare to widen our circle of moral consideration to septillions more beings than we currently recognize as morally relevant, including animals of obvious and non-obvious species, as well as other kinds of beings like artificial intelligence agents as well.

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Our 2024-2025 season continues with a special episode in conversation with Michael Vazquez (UNC) and Michael Prinzing (Baylor), co-authors of a first-of-its-kind new study on the development of intellectual virtues among philosophy students, and are working to apply their methodology to learners all across the lifespan. 

The post Special: Does Studying Philosophy Make Better Thinkers? appeared first on The Prindle Institute for Ethics.

A brand-new season of Examining Ethics kicks off with new host Alex Richardson in conversation with Krista Thomason, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Swarthmore College, on her new book Dancing with the Devil: Why Bad Feelings Make Life Good. 

The post Krista Thomason: Can Negative Emotions Make Life Good? appeared first on The Prindle Institute for Ethics.

Examining Ethics is back. Join new Host and Executive Producer, Alex Richardson for a brand new season of digging into tough ethical issues this November!

The post 2024-2025 Season Announcement appeared first on The Prindle Institute for Ethics.