Why we welcome poetic justice and despair at poetic injustice
Sometimes people like poetic justice because the law is not in a position to mete out what is deserved.
Academic rigor, journalistic flair
Articles on Ethics
Displaying 1 - 20 of 240 articles
Fixing a toxic culture like Uber’s requires more than just a new CEO
Ethical scandals at Uber and Fox have focused attention on the leaders of the organizations, but the problems of a toxic culture often embed deep within an organization.
Helping or hacking? Engineers and ethicists must work together on brain-computer interface technology
BCI devices that read minds and act on intentions can change lives for the better. But they could also be put to nefarious use in the not-too-distant future. Now's the time to think about risks.
Choosing healthy food: your surroundings can help or hinder your dining choices
A lot of money is spent by food producers and retailers to try and influence the type of food we buy and eat. But what can be done to encourage healthier choices?
Ethical journalism: what to do - and not to do - with leaked emails
When given leaked information journalists should check the information, consider alternative explanations, consider the political context and allow the people implicated a proper chance to respond.
It’s not always wrong to pay people for their organs
Paying people for their organs can be viewed as coercive and exploitative, but there is a middle ground.
Italy has introduced mandatory vaccinations – other countries should follow its lead
A new law makes it mandatory for children in Italy to have 12 vaccines.
An ethical hacker can help you beat a malicious one
Simply updating and patching an organisation's computer software may not be enough to fend off another cyber attack. You could engage an ethical hacker to help out.
What comes first: the free-range chicken or the free-range egg?
Many shoppers choose free-range eggs because they think they are tastier and healthier, rather than being motivated purely by concerns for hens' welfare, a new study has found.
Weaponised research: how to keep you and your sources safe in the age of surveillance
Yes, Big Brother is almost definitely watching. Here, five tips for researchers on keeping you and your sources safe.
South Africa needs moral leaders, not those in pursuit of selfish gain
South Africa celebrates Freedom Day this week amid growing discontent over misrule by President Zuma and the ANC. This has led to increased calls for ethical and caring leaders.
Dark Mofo’s slaughtered bull and the ethics of using animals in art
There is a history of mistreatment of animals in the name of art. But isn’t it about time artists made their point about human domination without themselves asserting dominance over beasts?
Body dysmorphic disorder and cosmetic surgery: are surgeons too quick to nip and tuck?
To not screen, and then deliver cosmetic procedures to people who may have body dysmorphic disorder, goes against the medical dictum "first do no harm".
When it comes to euthanasia, not all slippery slope arguments are ‘bullshit’
People are right to be skeptical when it comes to many slippery slope arguments used by those against euthanasia. But some of them are valid and shouldn't be dismissed as 'bullshit'.
Double standards in animal ethics: why is a lab mouse better protected than a cow?
Ethical codes on animal experimentation lay down strict rules about the treatment of lab animals. Animals headed to the slaughter house are not so lucky.
In a world first, Singapore’s highest court rules that parents deserve kids with their genes
The court found that parents have a strong interest in a "genetic affinity" with their children, one that can merit compensation if subverted.
What’s the point of an ethics course?
Ethical dilemmas arise not because someone did not know the ethical rules. Instead, they arise when individuals are unable to identify the relevant ethical principle at the time of crisis.
The ethics of research: how to end the exploitation of vulnerable communities
A new code of conduct for researchers has been developed by the San peoples of southern Africa.
Asimov’s Laws of Robotics aren’t the moral guidelines they appear to be
Humans need greater autonomy than Isaac Asimov's neat science fiction idea permits.
After 75 years, Isaac Asimov’s Three Laws of Robotics need updating
Today's robots and artificial intelligence look very different from the androids conceived by Isaac Asimov.
Top contributors
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Senior Lecturer in Philosophy, Deakin University
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Adjunct Lecturer, UNSW
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Senior Lecturer in Applied Ethics and Socio-Technical Studies, Griffith University
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Professor of Public Ethics, Centre For Applied Philosophy & Public Ethics (CAPPE), Charles Sturt University
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Ken Harvey is a Friend of The Conversation.
Associate Professor, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University
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Assistant Professor of Philosophy, University of Massachusetts Lowell
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Lecturer, Australian National University
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Senior Lecturer in Medical Ethics and Law, St George's, University of London
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Lecturer in Software Engineering, Monash University
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Associate professor, Charles Sturt University
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Professor of Organization Studies, University of Technology Sydney
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Associate Professor in Political Science and International Relations, University of Western Australia
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Research Scientist, Clark University
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Research Scholar at the Berman Institute of Bioethics, Johns Hopkins University
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ARC Future Fellow, Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne
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