History of Virtue Ethics
Philosopher Martha Nussbaum briefly traces the history of virtue ethics, from Aristotle through Kant. She notes that the major theories of virtue have all included strong criticism of traditional social norms, and rejects the notion that virtue ethi...
Are You Good or Evil?
This program seeks to determine if there is a physical source behind people’s moral impulses and whether notorious psychopaths, clearly deficient in morality, are in actuality “born bad.” Are You Good or Evil? uses brain scans to compare and c...
Confronting discrimination and prejudice
Encourage students to explore biases and stereotypes with this group of ABC News segments. Each scenario puts actors into exchanges with unwitting bystanders, generating a wide range of responses - from overt hostility towards other races and cultur...
Opposing Aggression and Bullying
Initiate lectures and class dialogue with this cluster of ABC News segments on violence, aggressive behavior, and crime. In each scenario, actors draw unassuming spectators into tense and often disturbing situations—with a broad spectrum of result...
Moral Dilemmas...Can Ethics Help?: Moral Dilemmas...Can Ethics Help?
The parents and medical staff caring for a premature baby struggling for life are faced with the decision of whether or not to continue treatment. Philosopher Immanuel Kant, whose ideas have influenced modern medical ethics, would answer such a ques...
Aristotle and Ethics
Philosopher Stephen Toulmin talks about Aristotle's perspective on ethics. Professor Toulmin explains that Aristotle didn't believe it was possible to develop an ethical formula that could fit all situations. Instead, he argued that ethical choices ...
Aristotle and Ancient Ethics
Philosopher Martha Nussbaum explores Aristotelian and ancient ethics, explaining what she feels are some of the drawbacks to virtue ethics.
Business ethics: a 21st century perspective
The globalization of commerce has added new shades of gray to the complex subject of business ethics. In this program, Frank Daly, corporate ethics officer at Northrop Grumman; Thomas White, director of the Center for Ethics and Business at Loyola M...
Building the Perfect Bug: Virology, Rogue Science, and Bioterrorism
Why did Dutch virologist Ron Fouchier and his team of researchers purposely engineer a lethal, airborne bird flu virus? That’s the first of many questions raised in this timely, eye-opening investigation. Why did Fouchier, in an uncanny parallel w...
Developing Ethics From Childhood
Philosopher Martha Nussbaum talks about ethics as part of character development starting from early childhood. She points out that there are multiple perspectives on early childhood and it can be difficult to focus on the "right account."