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Articles on Everyday ethics

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An entovegan might happily eat an insect burger like this one, believing that their diet is both sustainable and ethical. Karen Bleier/AFP via Getty Images

More people are eating bugs – but is it ethical to farm insects for food?

Insect farming is growing in popularity as an alternative to traditional livestock and feed production. A scholar evaluates what that means in terms of trillions of insect lives.
People wait in line to receive a vaccine shot against COVID-19 in Belgrade, Serbia, Aug. 17, 2021. Serbia and other countries have started administering booster doses. Meanwhile, more than half the world’s population has not had a first dose. AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic

Are COVID-19 boosters ethical, with half the world waiting for a first shot? A bioethicist weighs in

Scientists debate the medical benefits of booster shots. But there’s another aspect to consider: bioethics.
Keeping what is not rightfully one’s own reveals a lack of integrity and kindness. Mohammed Asad/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

What are the ethics of giving back money that doesn’t belong to you?

Charles Schwab mistakenly transferred over $1.2 million to the account of a woman who then kept the money. Did she have a moral obligation to return it? An expert says the answer is not that simple.
Students pulling a heavy ball representing the total outstanding student debt in the U.S. at over $1.5 trillion. PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP via Getty Images

The morality of canceling student debt

President-elect Joe Biden promised to forgive some part of student debt. An ethicist considers what’s fair.
Distant relatives? Visiting mom during the pandemic may be a risk. Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Everyday ethics: Should I visit my mother?

Is it right to visit family members during the pandemic, even if they say they don’t want you to come? Philosophy may hold the answer.
The roads are open, but not yet the shops. Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images

Everyday ethics: When should we lift the lockdown?

What are the moral considerations in making the decision to reopen society while mitigating the risk of infections spreading? We asked a philosophy scholar to walk us through the quandary.
What can philosophers tell you about paying taxes? RomanR/Shutterstock.com

Do you have a moral duty to pay taxes?

Many Americans are fretting over paying their taxes. A philosopher says the moral question isn’t as much about a duty toward the government, but being fair to fellow tax-paying citizens.
Catnip induces changes in cat behavior. Anna Hoychuk

Is it unethical to give your cat catnip?

Catnip can induce changes in cat behavior. An expert argues that giving it to cats raises questions about human power and animal autonomy.

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