Hutton Honors College

Debating Real-world Ethical Issues

Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009 * 7:15-9:30 p.m. * HHC Building (811 E. Seventh St.)
SIGN-UP REQUIRED (See below for procedure.) * Refreshments provided

Does the mother of a mentally handicapped teenager have the right to have her daughter sterilized because the youngster does not have the capacity to care for a child or the competency to make a fully informed reproductive decision on her own? Should the federal Bureau of Prisons be permitted to limit the religious books available to prisoners as a means to quell terrorist activities? Is the use of killer robots in armed combat justifiable, even if their designers cannot prevent them causing civilian casualties? With some U.S. states allowing gay marriage, what are the justifications for prohibiting polygamy, which some argue is a free exercise of religion?

These and other tough ethical questions come from current, real-world situations. Do you have answers? Can you persuade others that you are right and your arguments relevant? At this program, such ethical dilemmas will be explored, and debated, with the guidance of students from (and alumni of) IU's National Champion Ethics Bowl Team. Also participating will be team faculty advisor Sandy Shapshay of the philosophy department and team sponsor Richard Miller, director of the Poynter Center for the Study of Ethics and American Institutions and a member of the religious studies faculty.

SIGN-UP INFO: If you are interested in attending this event, please e-mail hdubina indicating you wish to sign up for the ethics evening and including your name, e-mail address, year in school, and field(s) of study. Space is limited so we will let you know by e-mail if a space was available when you replied.

If you are interested in applying to become a member of IU's 2009-10 Ethics Bowl team, please click here.

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