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food ethics essay topics

How Philosophers Approach Food Ethics

Hippo Reads is proud to be working with Oxford University Press to highlight unmissable excerpts from recent and upcoming titles. Today’s post is reprinted from From Field to Fork: Food Ethics for Everyone by Paul B. Thompson with permission from Oxford University Press, USA, © 2015, Paul B. Thompson.

Dory lives on five acres near a major metropolitan area. She derives most of her income from substitute teaching in several nearby school districts. She likes that work because it allows her to taper off her teaching in the springtime so that she can farm her land. She sells fruits and vegetables to local chefs and to the public at farmers’ markets throughout the summer. Dory is especially known for her strawberries, grown without any synthetic pesticides or chemical fertilizers. She has a neighbor who also grows organic strawberries, so occasionally they team up by pooling their berries. One or the other of them will take a turn selling them at the downtown farmers’ market. Whether it’s Dory or her neighbor Pat behind the market stand, people seek out these berries both for their wonderful flavor and because they like to buy from people they know.

Is Dory doing anything unethical? Many people will be surprised by such a question because the description just given hardly suggests any basis for suspecting unethical behavior. But by selling her neighbor’s strawberries Dory is violating the rules for many urban farmers’ markets. Although these rules are far from universal, many urban markets limit farmers to selling only the things they grow themselves. Such rules were put in place to give farmers an economic opportunity, but also because people who shop in farmers’ markets want to know that they are buying food directly from the person who grew it. Although it might seem unreasonable to apply such a rule so strictly in a case like Dory’s, a very similar type of horse-trading among local farmers led to a scandal in 2011 when people in Oregon were sickened by E. coli-contaminated strawberries. The source of the contamination was eventually traced to deer that had been on the farm of a single grower who was supplying numerous roadside stands as well as farmers selling in farmers’ markets. The scandal was less the result of the contamination itself than the difficulty authorities had in tracing the contaminated berries through the chain of trades being made by farmers whose customers thought that they were buying direct from the field.

Consider Walker, a student who purchases the meal plan at a college located in an urban area. Walker is a health-conscious vegetarian who eschews most of what is available at lunch and dinner in the campus dining hall, but his meal plan includes a budget for items that can be purchased anytime at the campus snack bar. Walker is not much for snacks, but he can also use this part of his plan to buy a few nonperishable food items: candy, chips, processed meat sticks, and packaged bakery items. One of his similarly health conscious friends has started a campaign for like-minded students to spend their snack budget on these nonperishable goods and then donate them to the local food bank. The director of the food bank says he would love to have them. His clients like candy and chips and especially those peppered sticks of jerky and sausage! But Walker is not so sure. He is all in favor of lending a helping hand to people who are short on food—and after all, he’s already paid for the plan, whether he spends the money or not. Yet how can it be ethical to give needy people food that he is not willing to eat himself?

I learned about Walker’s quandary by speaking with students at the university where I work, but questions very much like the one he is asking are faced by the managers of local food banks and charitable assistance programs everywhere. Similar questions apply to public policies offering supplemental nutrition assistance programs (SNAP) or what many still call “food stamps.” No one thinks that a diet consisting entirely of chips, candy, and soft drinks is healthy. Not even the manufacturers of these foods would suggest that. Still, snack foods consumed in moderation can be part of a healthy diet. Denying access to them seems like telling the client of a food bank that they cannot be trusted to make their own choices simply because they are poor or have fallen on hard times. It looks rather like a paternalistic form of disrespect. Yet as the old adage has it, “Beggars can’t be choosers.” Don’t people who contribute to food assistance programs have every right to insist that the churches, government agencies, and charitable organizations who run them shape the program according the donor’s values?

And finally, take Camille, a local legislator from a part of the country that is heavily dependent on pork production for employment and tax revenue. Camille has just met one of her constituents, a pig farmer demanding that she support a new piece of legislation. It seems that one of his neighbors hired a college kid to work on his swine farm over the summer, but the kid turned out to be an animal-rights activist. The kid smuggled in some high-priced vodka to drink with a few of the farm’s regular employees and then cajoled them into play-acting some scenes inspired by the horrible Abu Ghraib photographs of tortured Iraqi prisoners—only this time with pigs playing the role of the torture victims. The neighbor was furious when he found out. He fired the college kid and docked the pay of his regulars, warning them never to let something like that happen again. But now the video that the kid took of these fake abuse scenes has gone viral on YouTube. The news stations are starting to pick it up and are playing the story as if this is what happens all the time on area pig farms! Camille’s constituent wants her to support a law that would make distribution and reproduction of photographs or video recordings obtained without the farmer’s permission a crime.

Camille is not so sure. They call these “ag-gag” laws, and versions of them have been passed by state legislatures throughout the Midwestern farm belt of the United States. Although it’s easy to sympathize with the plight of her constituent’s neighbor (assuming he is telling the truth), such photographs and films are viewed as political speech by the animal protection organizations that circulate them. Camille suspects that her politically conservative farming constituents would not be very sympathetic to government interference in their own speech. And how can she (or anyone) be sure this neighbor was telling the truth when he accused the college kid of filming a set-up? Maybe those pigs were actually being abused. At the same time, she’s troubled because—having campaigned on plenty of pig farms herself—she’s satisfied that even if this kind of abuse happens from time to time it is rare. But the whole industry suffers when pictures like this are made public, and where is the justice in that?

Dory, Walker, and Camille are struggling with tough questions in food ethics, but many issues in food ethics are not tough at all. In 2009, Chinese officials revealed a conspiracy in which infant formula had been deliberately adulterated through the substitution of melamine, an ingredient in industrial glues and plastics, for milk powder. At least three infants died as a result, and some estimates indicated that 300,000 were sickened and may experience long-term health consequences. The perpetrators of the conspiracy are believed to have gained millions of dollars, but at an intolerable cost in human misery and loss of life. Unlike the questions being posed for Dory, Walker, or Camille, there is no mystery here about what should be done. Yet as much as we might like to think that the matter of what we eat or how it is produced and distributed will always be simple and clear-cut, the preparation and consumption of foods we eat everyday are replete with opportunities for ambiguity, confusion, and disagreement. Some of the most enduring and deep disagreements occur when one person thinks the ethical choices are easy and unambiguous, but the next person is not so sure.

The Rise of Food Ethics

Dory, Walker, and Camille are philosophical thought experiments—stories cooked up to give us insight into an ethical problem—rather than real people. Their situations are typical of problems that will be discussed throughout this book. To many people, food ethics means making better dietary choices. Choices could be better in terms of health or they could have better environmental and social consequences for others. Food choices become ethical when they intersect with complex economic supply chains in ways that cause better or worse outcomes for other people, for nonhuman animals, or for the environment. It is worth reminding ourselves that this is a relatively new idea. Enthusiasm for farmers’ markets; humanely produced animal products; and fairly traded coffee, tea, and cocoa has grown markedly over the last decade. Over the same time period, we have also gained greater recognition of links between diet and the alarming growth in diabetes, heart disease, and other degenerative conditions. Thus food ethics might include not only making better choices yourself but also designing menus, public policies, or even cities to encourage better food choices by everyone. The examples of Dory, Walker, and Camille illustrate further problems in food ethics that do not even involve dietary choice in any simple or straightforward way.

The growing number of ways that food becomes embroiled in ethical quandaries coincides with key industrial and commercial developments in the production and distribution of food. As food historians have demonstrated, the early decades of the twentieth century saw the emergence of food manufacturing firms and chain grocery stores. During this period, many factors conspired to create a food system in which consumers were quite ignorant of where their food came from and hence could not make choices on ethical grounds. On the one hand, urban populations simply lacked a kind of personal experience with food production that had been virtually ubiquitous a century earlier. On the other hand, technological changes in rail transport and food processing were creating longer supply chains and smoothing out seasonal variation in food availability. Branded products arose in response to consumer demands for some reasonable certainty as to the quality of processed foods, and with branding came food advertising. Home economists promoted the use of canned and packaged food as “progressive,” and as more women entered the workforce, it became necessary to economize on the time invested in procurement and preparation of meals at home. By the 1960s, these trends were being augmented by rapid growth in meals eaten outside the home.

These developments in marketing and distribution were occurring as a two-centuries-long process of transformation was being completed in the agricultural sector of industrialized economies. The years after World War II were especially significant for a rapid growth in the use of chemical methods for controlling plant diseases and insect pests in crop production, and the creation of intensive concentrated animal-feeding operations (CAFOs) or, as their critics characterized them, “factory farms.” The combination of consumer ignorance and complex technological change began to be associated with a series of high-profile problems, beginning with food adulteration during the early decades of the twentieth century and continuing with Rachel Carson’s exposé Silent Spring in 1962. The consumer backlash began to mount in the counterculture with increased attention to the health and environmental impacts of industrially produced and distributed food. Sometimes this backlash took the form of small farms and food co-ops that attempted to create an alternative food system, but the more typical response has been for economically successful farmers and well-entrenched food industry firms to develop and market products that appeal to “alternative” values. In the 1970s, foods were advertised as “natural,” but consumers rapidly turned to “organic” as a more meaningful alternative value. Soon “humane” and “fairly traded” labels began to be added to the alternative food lexicon. By the early years of the twenty-first century, consumers who had been made skeptical by large food industry firms’ abilities to exploit all these terms began to seek “local” foods as a way to eat more ethically.

This book engages these topics, but it does not tell you what to eat. Chapter 1 reviews the recent history for the rise of food ethics in more detail, emphasizing seminal ideas that emerged in the 1970s. One theme is to describe the difference between food ethics focused on supply chains and their socio-environmental impact, on the one hand, and an ethics constructed wholly in terms of one’s own dietary choices, on the other. From there, the book takes a deeper dive into a few of the big themes in food ethics. Injustice in the food system is the focus of Chapter 2. I ask whether food issues tell us something new about social justice, or if they are simply case studies for more general philosophical ideas about justice. Chapter 3 follows the ethics of diet and health from the ancient world to our current obesity crisis. In Chapter 4 we come to what I call the “fundamental problem” in food ethics: the enduring tension between the interests of poor farmers in the developing world and the hungry masses of growing urban centers. The case for vegetarianism is discussed briefly in Chapter 5, but the main focus is on the ethical difficulties in food animal production that we should be thinking about while we wait for people to become vegetarians. The environmental sustainability of the food system is the subject of Chapter 6, and Chapter 7 takes us back to the developing world to consider how Green Revolution-style development projects should be evaluated in ethical terms. The final chapter revisits themes of risk, personal diet, and the nature of ethical thinking itself by considering some questions in the debate over genetically engineered foods. These eight chapters provide a microcosm of the issues that might be included under the heading of “food ethics.” In each case I do more to complicate the ethical analysis of our contemporary food system than I support specific recommendations for policy change or personal choice. There are many more topics that could be added.

What Is Ethics?

I believe that ethics should be viewed as a discipline for asking better questions. Common speech equates “ethics” with “acting rightly,” and like many college professors who teach and write on ethics, I am frequently beset by someone who recounts an episode of outrageous behavior by some person or group. The tirade ends with the question, “So is that ethical?” It seems as if they want an expert to certify their opinion. When the behavior in question is truly outrageous, it is easy enough to agree, but philosophical ethics is more attuned toward developing the vocabulary and patterns of thinking that make for more perceptive and imaginative ethical reasoning than it is toward training someone to judge particular cases in a uniform manner. In this section and the next, I provide a brief introduction to the way that philosophers approach ethics. It is intended to ease readers who come to the book with a keen interest in food issues but little background in philosophical ethics. These remarks provide a sketch and cover some standard terminology for lay readers, but take caution: in answering the question, “What is ethics?,” this way, I do not pretend to be offering definitive accounts of the various schools or theories of ethics that are studied in philosophy departments.

We can start with a graphic that illustrates some key elements of a decision-making situation in very simple terms. Figure 1 represents the agent, a person or group that will undertake some action or engage in some kind of activity. One can think of oneself occupying this position, but the figure might also represent an organization, such as a business or political party, or it might even be taken to represent society as a whole. The activity to be undertaken may or may not be the result of a conscious or deliberately considered and calculated choice. The situation of a very generalized “decision maker” orients us to some key elements of human conduct that can be the target of ethical reflection or evaluation. After noticing these elements we reflect equally on the actions that we undertake as individuals or on the combined activity of people acting in organizations, groups, and even random groupings (such as crowds).

Human activity is always constrained in a number of different ways. Some things are simply impossible: they violate the laws of physics and chemistry. One cannot become invisible on whim, and in the world of food, biophysical constraints define some of the possibilities for the production and distribution of what people will eat. In the graphic, such constraints are represented by the ring labeled technology. In referring to these biophysical constraints as technology, we acknowledge that although the laws of physics, chemistry, and biology limit what can be done rather robustly, the way that these inflexible laws are reflected in our material circumstances is not fixed once and for all. The history of food and agricultural technology has dramatically changed the biophysical constraints that someone living in the nineteenth century would have faced. Some key issues in food ethics concern the way that we should invest research dollars in the quest to make even further changes in our food technology. However, the main focus of ethics is usually on the two “softer” types of constraint. First, there are things that are forbidden by law and policy. Some things are against the law, while others may violate a policy that one is required to follow as a condition of employment, for example. Second, there are biophysically possible courses of action that are forbidden by customs and norms. While not against the law, they are things that one knows full well not to do. In typical decision making, people have so thoroughly internalized both kinds of constraint that they simply do not even consider a course of action that would violate them.

Eventually, people do something; the agents act. Perhaps they rather unreflectively order lunch at a restaurant, or perhaps they make a life-changing decision to quit their job and start an organic winery in Oregon. A company acts when it launches a new product or advertising program. Even disorganized groups can act. A riot would be one example, but we say that “the public” acts (or speaks) when a new product succeeds or fails to attract enough buyers to achieve market success. Whatever action or activity is performed or undertaken is referred to as conduct in the graphic. It might be cooking mashed potatoes or buying chips at the store, and it might be passing new laws on food safety or making a multi-million dollar investment in some speculative venture to produce test-tube meats. For firms, it might be manufacturing cheesecake or marketing a product through online sales. Any description of something that people or groups are doing could qualify as conduct, however broadly or narrowly it is constructed. We start to see that this very general depiction of the human situation has some relevance to ethics when we notice that all these forms of conduct have consequences. Here, consequences are changes or effects on the health, wealth, and well-being of any affected party, including the agent herself (or itself, as the case may be). From the perspective of clear ethical thinking, it is important to distinguish the conduct from its impacts or consequences. The sum total of all consequences to the health, wealth, and well-being of all affected parties is often referred to as an outcome. It would be possible to develop more detailed or nuanced terminology for describing ethically significant action or activity, but this very simple model will suffice for present purposes.

Each element of an agent’s decision-making situation can have ethical significance, and the nature of this significance is often signaled by distinctive terminology. Ethically significant consequences are described as benefits, costs, or harms. If an agent does something that affects the health, wealth, or well-being of someone else positively, it can be characterized as a benefit. If it affects that person adversely, it is a harm. We commonly refer to adverse impacts as costs, but this is not how economists understand that word, so there are reasons to avoid it. Ethically significant constraints that take the form of law and policy, on the one hand, or customs and norms, on the other, are often described in terms of rights and duties. If someone has a right that I must respect, doing so constrains my potential range of action. Possible courses of action that would violate that person’s rights are considered out of bounds and I must not undertake them. If I have a duty (perhaps because I have made a contract or promise) my action is similarly constrained: I can consider only those possible activities that are consistent with fulfilling that duty. Generally speaking, rights and duties can be thought of as correlative: if I have a right, then others have a duty to respect it. Finally, there are certain types of conduct that are named directly with words that imply ethical significance. Lying, mendacity, and dishonesty are rough synonyms for one type of conduct; truthfulness, honesty, and sincerity name its opposite. Such words tie ethical significance directly to a given type of conduct without referring back to rights and duties or looking ahead to outcomes. They classify conduct in terms of virtue or vice.

Philosophical ethics is an organized practice—a discipline. Its practitioners focus first and foremost on these three ways that action or activity can be characterized as ethically significant. They study the way that people formulate, specify, and discuss the rightness or wrongness of action and activity by characterizing it in terms of virtue or vice, noting the constraints that function as rights or duties, and attending carefully to its beneficial and harmful consequences. It is only a slight exaggeration to say that if a point of reference cannot be described in terms of relevance to virtues and vices, rights and duties, or benefits and harms, it is unlikely to have any ethical significance at all. Food ethics, then, is the study of how virtue, vice, rights, duties, benefits, and harms arise in connection with the way that we produce, process, distribute, and consume our food.

How Philosophers Approach Ethics

For the last two hundred years or so, academically trained philosophers have tended to organize themselves among several schools of thought on how actions and activity can be deemed ethically correct or, to say the same thing, ethically justified. They have developed theoretical accounts of what makes one action right and another wrong, and these accounts are referred to as ethical theory. Some of the most influential theories focus on only one of the elements described above. Utilitarianism is a theory (actually a family of theories) holding that ultimately only consequences matter. Claims about rights and duties are, at the end of the day, reducible to benefits and harms. A duty, for example, might simply be a rule that, if followed carefully, will lead to the best consequences—the best available outcome in terms of total benefit and harm. Classical utilitarianism specified an ethically right action as the one that achieves the “the greatest good” (i.e., the most net benefit) for “the greatest number” (i.e., the largest possible number of affected parties). This specification was modified by welfare economists who were willing to sanction any action that achieves a “potential Pareto improvement” (i.e., achieves more benefits that harm). Notice also that this simple description of utilitarianism does not say who or what counts as an affected party. Is it only one’s fellow citizens or is it all of humankind? What about nonhuman animals? Is it possible to benefit or harm an ecosystem or an endangered species? There are other details, too. Clearly, not every adverse event counts as a morally significant harm. If you beat me at Monopoly or Scrabble, it’s doubtful that I can claim to be harmed in any morally significant way. But what about the losers in an economic competition? Is losing your job because your employer went broke just an example of “the way things go” (like losing at Scrabble), or is it a morally significant form of harm? Here there are disagreements, and as we will see at several junctures, this disagreement matters in food ethics. For now, just note that spelling out the details of a full-fledged ethical theory becomes an exceedingly complex task.

For present purposes it is the contrast between a utilitarian’s laser-beam attentiveness to consequences and an approach focused on rights and duties that is more significant to notice. Such a theory, which we will simply call rights theory, must derive an account of the way that actions are constrained by the rights of others. Although (once again) this can get very complicated, it is worth pointing out two general strategies. One approach is called contractualism (or sometimes social contract theory). This approach assumes that rights are grounded in the promises that we make to one another. If I promise to meet you at the pub at five o’clock, you have a right to expect me to keep that promise, and I have a duty to do so. When we (or our representatives) make laws or set policies, we are, in effect, promising to act according to a system of rights and duties. More generally, perhaps we can think of our social interaction as a set of implicit promises, and we can develop our ethical theory by asking each other, “What are the promises that we would most hope to govern our interactions?” Historically, this question has often been tied to rationality: what is the social contract—the system of rights and duties—that a rational person would accept? The contractualist approach emphasizes the reasons why a given social bargain (i.e., a system or configuration of rights and duties) would be rationally acceptable, rather than the benefits and harms that such a configuration can be expected to produce.

The alternative approach to rights suggests that we can derive a binding set of rights and duties by thinking hard and deeply about the nature of human freedom. The widespread practice of human slavery was overturned largely because people came to believe that it could not be reconciled with basic human rights. Of course a truly free person must not be a slave to passion, either. And passion is governed (or constrained) by a good or moral will. On this view we can obtain a sense of mastery over passions that destroy our freedom—a perspective on freedom indicated by the term autonomy—by recognizing (or in some sense giving ourselves) a set of constraints to guide our conduct. Immanuel Kant developed the most influential version of this approach to ethical theory, arguing that we can impose correct moral constraints upon ourselves by asking whether we would be willing to see a proposed constraint treated as a universal law—as a principle of duty binding on all persons at all times. An approach to rights theory that probes the meaning and achievement of human freedom is often described as Kantian (or neo-Kantian in deference to some deviations from Kant’s own view). Again, fully specifying such a theory brings us into further complexities. The point here is definitely not to convey an adequate basis for understanding neo-Kantian ethical theory but simply to indicate how someone pursuing this line of reasoning will ask rather different questions than someone who thinks that ethics can be satisfactorily theorized by calculating the net value of benefits and harms.

And there are still more options. The type of philosophy that gives rise to debates over rights and duties on the one hand and consequences on the other fails to really capture all of the meaning that is sometimes packed into the claim that a particular type of conduct is virtuous or vicious. While talk of the virtues seems less able to drive ethical thinking to a specific prescription—that is, to a formulation of which action really is the right thing to do—it nonetheless does articulate the way that patterns or habits of conduct become morally significant, even when they are undertaken relatively unreflectively. Emphasizing virtue (or arête, as Aristotle might have had it) may be especially useful when an overall pattern of behavior rather than a single instance of choice is morally significant. Some advocates of virtue theory emphasize an individual’s disposition or character, not whether any given decision conforms to a rule. Alternatively, achieving virtue may depend upon living in an environment or culture that shapes our behavior in ways that we are barely aware of. Promoting virtue may have more to do with structuring human behavior and social interaction in ways that make it easier to be reflective about the things that really matter and that steer us onto autopilot when proper action can be reliably left to habit. So some philosophers have defended virtue theory as an alternative to relying on close inspection of consequences or rights that arise in connection with any single instance of action.

There is less than total agreement among contemporary philosophers that choosing one of these tracks in ethical theory is required at all. One might be a pluralist who sees each way of thinking as achieving a kind of partial truth. Or one might follow Jürgen Habermas, who argues that we should be focused on the process of engaging these different types of ethical reasoning in a form of dis- course or debate where discussants trade arguments in the spirit of reaching a kind of agreement on what is right for the case at hand (a view Habermas calls discourse ethics). Perhaps I should admit to being more fully persuaded by Habermas than by any contemporary advocates of utilitarianism, rights theory, or virtue theory. Suffice it to say that I will not pursue detailed development and application of any of these theoretical approaches in the following excursion through food ethics. Nevertheless, it will be helpful to readers to be attentive to the way that ethical arguments can function in these three somewhat different ways. Sometimes a reason for doing one thing rather than another is based on the outcome of action, and sometimes it is grounded in the way that action should be constrained, either by social convention or by the nature of our desire for true freedom. Sometimes a reason for doing something or even for thinking harder about what one is doing out of habit appeals to a more nebulous but nevertheless palpable sense of virtue. All these types of reasoning make occasional appearances in food ethics, and the point of this brief summary is simply a heads-up to the reader unschooled in the ways of the philosophers.

A Note on My Method

My approach in this book aims to steer a path between the Scylla of always keeping your peas and mashed potatoes separate and the Charybdis of mushy thinking rationalized by whatever seems right at the moment. In other words, I deploy the philosopher’s penchant for clear and distinct ideas, but I deploy it in moderation. I treat ethical theories (such as rights theory, utilitarianism, or natural law) as argument forms that provide alternative (but sometimes also complementary) ways to frame a descriptive account of the situation that confronts us. In doing so, these accounts make claims upon the emotions, habits, and institutional structures that allow us to act as individuals, as informally coordinated groups, and as formally structured organizations. I take it that one job for ethics is to inspect and query the circumstances in which such claims arise. Although these claims are often made explicitly by people who wish to motivate action, I do not presuppose that the claims upon us have always been clear or explicitly articulated.

I do suppose that in investigating ethical issues in the food system over the last thirty-five years, I have been engaged in inquiry. By inquiry I mean a loosely structured activity that arises in reaction to some disturbance or disruption and that expects to conclude with an active response that resolves or at least responds to the distress or curiosity with which the inquiry began. I have been trying to think of these issues in the right way. However, in pledging my allegiance to getting it right I am not also promising to frame matters in terms of ethical or scientific theories. I am not intrinsically interested in portraying the issues as social constructions or functions of underlying biological drives, to note just two of the many ways that social or biophysical scientists treat food issues. There may be occasions in which either of these modalities are helpful to my inquiry, but I am not here to peddle theoretical constructs. In undertaking ethical inquiries, I am hoping to arrive at better and more correct answers than I started with. One influential tradition in philosophy has supposed that I must have some prior conception of what it means to get things right in order to do this, but my own view is that any conception of what it means to get things right would itself be the product of an inquiry. So I am inclined to think that in concluding this introduction it may be more important to say something about inquiry itself.

John Dewey illustrated his basic conception of inquiry in the 1896 article “The Reflex Arc Concept in Psychology.” Sitting comfortably and engrossed in a book, he is startled by a noise. His first response is a bit scatterbrained as he reorients his attention to the disturbance that is making a claim on his attention. He forms a hypothesis: the wind has blown the window open. Next he forms a plan: get up and close the window. Finally, he actually gets up and closes the window, bringing the inquiry to a close through an action that simultaneously corroborates the hypothesis, executes the plan, and addresses the disturbance. For Dewey, it is the whole sequence that illustrates inquiry, including the scatterbrained part and the physical activity of closing the window itself. The educational psychologist David Kolb offers some helpful terminology and a schematic of Dewey’s learning theory that identifies four distinct phases—five phases if we count the disturbance that sets the whole thing off (see figure 2). The scatterbrained search for a general orientation is divergence. As the dizzy and unfocused divergent stage begins to coalesce into a more structured and organized search for answers, the hypothesis-forming or assimilation phase begins to construct an explanation or model that accounts for the disturbance. Once this is in place, it is possible to formulate conditional if-then components that, in turn, suggest a plan, a process that Kolb calls convergence. Finally, it is worth noticing how executing the plan requires many elements that were probably not anticipated by the hypothesis. One has to actually get up out of the chair, which may require finding a place to put one’s book. Closing the window may require jiggling or bumping it. These supplements to the hypothesis involve an active and engaged kind of intelligence that Kolb calls accommodation. A learning cycle is completed when a person or group has moved through all phases of the inquiry process.

A detailed discussion of Dewey or Kolb would take us far from food ethics, yet it may prove helpful to notice how this four-phased account of inquiry helps us orient ourselves to a number of tasks that are crucial for practical ethics. Each phase in the process of inquiry is associated with a distinct potential for error, for mistakes that will result in a failure of the overall process. In the divergent phase, it is important to keep the opportunities for brainstorming and bringing possible responses to the disturbance open in order to avoid over-commitment. An unfruitful investment of cognitive resources (e.g., time and energy) into a hypothesis that turns out to be unrelated to the disturbance or curiosity that the process of inquiry was initiated to address is one kind of error. It is, in fact, an all too frequent kind of error in today’s world. In assimilation, the goal of explanation or modeling takes over. Assimilation points us toward classic philosophical characterizations of truth and moral correctness. To be in error here is simply to have a model or explanation that does not accurately map or correspond to the situation. Twentieth-century moral philosophers became obsessed with modeling a universal standard for moral correctness, so much so that for many philosophers, “getting it right” came to be understood exclusively in terms of limiting assimilative errors. As one moves into convergence, a number of more practical considerations begin to be relevant. There may be many ways that one could undertake action given the working model that has been developed in the assimilative phase, but it would be a mistake to ignore the relative costs and risks that would be associated with any given possibility as one converges toward implementation. In the accommodation phase, it becomes important for somebody to actually get up and close the window. It is here that the classic divide between theory and practice emerges, for the proverbial “man of action”—quite possibly a woman, I hasten to add—may be the person or group who is most able to avoid the distracting tendency to revise the theory instead of finally doing something. The accommodator adjusts the plan so that the initial disturbance is materially addressed in its particulars.

This discussion of errors suggests that a strictly sequential interpretation of these four phases of inquiry may be misleading. Indeed, Kolb himself has stressed the idea that different individuals may be characterized by a particular learning style. Each learning style is typified by different types of intelligence, capability, or skill. The accommodative learning style encompasses a set of competencies that Kolb calls acting skills: leadership, initiative, and action. The diverging learning style is associated with valuing skills: relationship, helping others, and sense-making. The assimilating learning style is related to thinking skills: information gathering, information analysis, and theory building. Finally, the converging learning style is associated with decision skills like quantitative analysis, use of technology, and goal setting. Kolb argues that in the university we see these different learning styles strongly associated with different academic departments. Academics with diverging learning styles tend to become English professors or teach in the arts. The natural sciences are dominated by assimilators, while engineers and others in technology fields tend toward a convergent learning style. Accommodators wind up in the business school. Without endorsing the stereotyping implied by such classification of individuals, it is nonetheless striking that a lot of work by academic philosophers tends to valorize criteria that reflect the assimilation phase of inquiry—an approach that Richard Rorty critiqued as seeking to become “the mirror of nature.” My approach in this book is pragmatic in holding (with Dewey) that it is the totality that should remain foremost in our thinking while undertaking a process of inquiry. There are many ways in which we can err, and there are numerous ways in which we can get it right.

Kolb’s schematic is most relevant to our topics in that it helps us recall that criteria for right thinking and right action will depend on where we are in the process of inquiry. It suggests a picture of learning or inquiry that errs when any one of these learning styles comes to dominate our thinking, and in this it intersects nicely with recent trends in feminist and postcolonial epistemology. We are not likely to get things right when we systematically exclude people who have a particular perspective from the processes of deliberation and social decision making. There is a growing recognition among people from many walks of life that this kind of exclusion is not only unjust, it is spectacularly stupid in its tendency to discard or ignore what may turn out to be crucial pieces of information. This has resulted in a wave of philosophical and social science research that explores the process of inclusion. Here, too, there is an important intersection point with the approach I take in this book. Social action to address the issues discussed in the following chapters must clearly take cognizance of this work and must experiment with more inclusive modes for organizing and affecting responses.

However, right action in food ethics will likely require a bit more than a general theory of inclusion or social process. Consistent with feminist epistemology and critical theory, my approach to food ethics does indeed emphasize inclusion and listening. Consistent with an interest in social justice and with at least some goals that have bound people into a food movement, the following chapters probe a series of food issues with an eye toward identifying the key points at which divergent social concerns meet. Consistent with the pragmatist orientation, the analysis seeks to identify the points at which divergent, assimilative, convergent, and accommodative learning styles intersect. Consistent with yet another line of recent scholarship in science studies, my discussion of food and food systems will focus on the objects, organizations, and activities that reside along the boundaries of these intersections. But consistent with all of the above values, I largely ignore the theoretical apparatus in favor of plain talk, whenever I can do so. I hope that I uncover unnoticed and underappreciated sites where action might be focused, and that I identify some divergent themes that need to be recognized before we prematurely converge upon plans of action. Ironically perhaps, it is not necessary to call a great deal of attention to the theoretical and methodological themes of epistemology, pragmatism, and moral theory while doing so.

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The Oxford Handbook of Food Ethics

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32 The Ethics of Being a Foodie

Susan Wolf is Edna J. Koury Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

  • Published: 11 January 2018
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The chapter defines foodies as people who are enthusiasts about food for aesthetic reasons and explores the reasons behind the morally tinged antipathy many people have toward foodies so defined. Setting aside concerns with elitism and snobbishness that pertain to any activity or passion that is associated with privilege, and objections that are based on a negative stereotype that is inessential to foodieism, the chapter considers what criticisms might apply specifically to foodieism in contrast to other bourgeois interests. Criticisms and attitudes based on the (sometimes unexpressed) thought that food is a low or bestial pleasure are discussed and rejected. Thus, the chapter concludes that there need be no tension between ethics and foodieism.

The interest in our ethical relation to food, barely noticeable to observers of Western culture a decade or two ago, seems to have burst into prominence in recent years, thanks to philosophers like Peter Singer and journalists like Michael Pollan. There has been an explosion of books on “food ethics”—clearly, this book is one—not to mention documentary films, college courses, conferences, and workshops that testify first to the growing realization that there are moral issues at stake in our attitudes to food and our behavior with respect to it, and second to the remarkable and commendable interest and willingness to confront these issues in the academy, in policymaking institutions, and in the public at large.

Among the topics that fall under the general heading of Food Ethics, our obligations to animals loom large. Is it permissible to raise animals for food? To hunt them if it is not necessary for one’s survival? What practices for raising, not to mention slaughtering, food-producing animals, if any, are humane enough to meet minimal moral standards? As our treatment of animals has come under moral scrutiny, so has the treatment of farmworkers and others in the food industry. There are grave environmental issues, too, that arise in connection with our techniques for harvesting fish, for fertilizing our fields, for feeding our cattle. Further, the distribution of food, at both the global and the local levels, has significant consequences for the health and flourishing of whole regions and communities.

Relative to these weighty issues, this essay’s topic is undeniably frivolous. 1 For those seeking moral edification, this may come as bad news—there is not likely to be much in these pages that will lead to moral improvement or to making the world a better place. But there is good news, too, in the fact that one is not likely to come away from this essay with new reasons for shame and guilt. And, anyway, it does us good to take a break from moral edification once in a while.

Although the topic of this essay is announced in its title, its central term—foodie—is new enough and contested enough to call for more explicit definition. The word did not exist before 1980, 2 and it has been variously embraced, excoriated, and debated in recent years as use of it has proliferated. It is not, I think, a pretty word and I have some sympathy with those who wish it had never been coined, but, in my dialect at least, it identifies the category of people about whom I wish to speak better than “food lover,” on the one hand, or “gourmet,” on the other, and so I will employ it. What does it mean (or how at any rate shall I be using it)? Let me characterize a foodie, roughly and briefly, as someone who is an enthusiast about food for aesthetic reasons ; someone, more particularly, who loves food—or more precisely, who loves tasting food, and is interested enough in it to be willing to spend a considerable portion of his or her expendable income and time to exploring, studying, and sampling food, with special interest in the pleasures of the tastes. So understood, the term is narrower than that of “food lover” insofar as one might describe oneself, or be described by another, as a food lover for having a hearty appetite and taking great joy in eating, without having any interest in or tendency to develop the kind of refinement of gustatory sensibility and discrimination that the term “foodie” invokes. On the other hand, the term is meant to be broader than “gourmet” in not being restricted in its application to people with an interest in haute cuisine or in rare or exotic ingredients and dishes. Although the traditional gourmet is one kind of foodie, so is the person who chooses to spend her vacations in search of the best chili, the best barbecue, the best ice cream in the world. 3

Importantly, my use of the term is evaluatively neutral. It is not part of its meaning that there is anything objectionable about being a foodie (nor obviously is it part of its meaning that there is anything admirable about it). It is not, in other words, a slur. In light of that, however, one might wonder why the ethics of being a foodie is a topic at all. For while there are roles, professions, and activities that raise ethical questions distinctive enough to make “the ethics of being an X ” a reasonable subject for a lecture or even a course, not just any “ X ” will do. It would be mystifying for someone to announce an interest in the ethics of being a basketball player or a pianist. Why, then, think that there is such a thing as an ethics of being a foodie distinct from the ethics of being an ordinary human being?

Why indeed. It is, in fact, this very question that this essay will explore. For it is my impression that although it is rarely made explicit, there is a common sentiment of at least quasi-moral disapproval toward foodies—a feeling or an attitude that there is something morally dubious about a passionate interest in the aesthetics of food, that having such an interest is somehow a sign of bad character. 4 And it is this sentiment and the possible reasons behind it that I want to unearth and assess.

In the interest of full disclosure, I should confess that my interest in this topic is at least partly personal. I consider myself a foodie—it is a status and an interest I share with many of my relatives and friends. But I also have friends and relatives—including some good friends and close relatives—whom I sense are unhappy with this aspect of my character. Although they would not criticize me directly—at least not to my face—or judge that it is strictly speaking immoral to be a foodie, I pick up cues suggesting some sort of vaguely moral disapproval. If you’ll pardon the ironic choice of metaphor, I would say that they find something unsavory about a foodie’s sort of interest in food. And, as I have already mentioned, it is my impression that they are not unusual. There are a lot of foodies in the middle classes of twenty-first-century America, but there are also a lot of anti-foodies, where the disdain or dislike is at least roughly moral in character. Confirming my sense of this split in popular culture, is the fact that when I browsed the Internet for a definition of “foodie,” the first one I came across—in urbandictionary.com—defined foodie as “a douchebag who likes food.”

Now what I have already said should make clear that, however amusing, this definition of “foodie” is unacceptable. One reason why is that it is easy to imagine a douchebag who likes food who is not a foodie. Consider, for example, the sort of person who enters pie-eating contests, or hot-dog-eating contests, or, in my home state, the person who enters the Krispy Kreme Challenge. (This is a remarkably popular race in which the participants run two miles, eat a dozen Krispy Kreme doughnuts, and run back.) Although not all the people who enter such competitions would qualify as douchebags, it is probable that some of them would, and that the kind of love of food they have does not necessarily qualify them as foodies. But my interest in this essay is with the flipside of the suggested definition: the question is not whether every douchebag who likes food is a foodie, but whether every foodie is a douchebag.

Since I have already announced that I think of myself as a foodie, you will not be surprised that my answer shall be “no” and you might reasonably expect my remarks to be somewhat defensive. But I hope at least not to be blindly defensive. I want to be as open as possible to understanding what lies behind the negative attitudes so many people have to foodies, to make more explicit the bases for such attitudes, to distinguish the prejudices from the reasons.

Why, then, do so many people find foodieism morally questionable? Perhaps the most obvious reasons relate to its associations with being at once bourgeois and elitist. There is no question that foodieism is typically an interest for the privileged. Foodies are apt to enjoy going out to fancy and expensive restaurants, to stock their cupboards with extra virgin olive oil and Celtic sea salt rather than the cheaper generic versions of the same categories of foods. They may also take the time to shop at four different grocery stores because one has the best meat, another the best produce, and so on. They will drive to the next county for its famed breakfast pastries, or make their own mayonnaise from scratch. These things are all reflective of some degree of luxury. One cause of discomfort, then, comes from an awareness that the foodie is choosing to spend so much time and especially money pursuing self-interested culinary pleasures while others are struggling to survive.

Mixed up with this concern is the impression that foodies are snobbish—that they look down on people who cannot tell the difference between heirloom tomatoes and the ordinary ones at the supermarket, or at people who have not heard of shishito peppers or who think maple bacon cupcakes are just weird.

To a considerable extent, analogous concerns can be raised about any activity or interest that members of the privileged classes tend especially to have. There are legitimate issues to be discussed about how much one ought morally to allow oneself to spend on one’s own interests and pleasures (and on the interests and pleasures of one’s loved ones) in the face of the disparities of wealth in one’s society and the world. And snobbishness, insofar as it involves judging people to be less worthy of one’s care or respect—judging them, if you will, to be inferior people—because they lack either the capacity or the interest in cultivating the values and discrimination of a domain like this, is rightly subject to criticism. Yet it seems to me that many people have moral reservations or other negative responses to foodieism that they do not have to other activities or interests that are at least as exclusionary. Why is this?

It is curious that, even though the cost of a ticket to the opera or to a rock concert or a Broadway play is considerably more than a dinner at most upscale restaurants, the attitudes toward concert-going music lovers are rarely as disapproving as those toward foodies. Indeed, many people who feel morally uncomfortable spending $50 or $100 for a meal buy such tickets themselves; they drive Volvos rather than Subarus or Hondas; they own large flat-screen TVs. There is no reason to think that the amount of money the typical foodie spends in the service of her foodieism, then, is especially large, relative to other middle- and upper-class indulgences. That it should be more likely to arouse moral criticism needs to be explained in other ways.

Part of the explanation, I suspect, has to do with the fact that food is a universal. We all need food. We all buy groceries. And so the comparison between what you eat and what I eat, what you spend and what I spend, comes readily to mind. When considering whether to spend $15.00 for a Wagu Beefburger, one cannot help but notice the disparity between that and the Big Mac you can get for $3.99. And the Feeding America site tells me that every dollar I donate will provide the organization enough to secure and distribute ten meals to people facing hunger. One might hope that it would give a person pause to spend an amount on a dinner for himself that could provide meals to 500 or even a 1,000 starving people.

And yet, we do not expect people to stop and think about all the good they could be doing with their expendable income before buying concert tickets or going to an amusement park or a sporting event, nor do we blame them for buying a house with a study rather than making do with a smaller one and donating the difference in cost to Habitat for Humanity. 5

Of course, I am all for donating money to Habitat, and to Feeding America and Oxfam, and I agree that if a person did not think twice before spending a hundred dollars or more on a meal, it would show a troubling kind of callousness or obliviousness to the world we live in. But thinking twice is one thing, having a moral obligation to refrain is another. If one does not object to people spending a portion of their resources pursuing their interests in the arts or buying occasional luxury items, or traveling to other countries for a holiday, one should not object to their spending it on food and restaurants without an argument for why this interest should be singled out from all the others.

Similarly, the accusation that foodies are smug or snobbish has something in common with issues about snobbery in other areas. For those (like me) who want to defend and even rejoice in people’s ability to develop their powers of discrimination, and who believe that there are, to use Hume’s phrase, standards of taste that allow us to distinguish better and worse movies, paintings, works of philosophy, as well as blueberry pies, it is an interesting question how one can be discriminating—even judgmental—about such things without being a snob. But again this challenge is not peculiar to the culinary domain. If the tendency to think of foodies as snobbish or smug is more common than the tendency to think of movie or opera lovers this way, then, this too needs to be explained. Again, I suspect that the universality of our relation to food is behind it.

A part of the explanation for the charge that foodies are snobs may have to do with defensiveness on the part of the non-foodie. Knowing that one’s dining companion is a foodie might make one uncomfortable when it is time to order, or when she asks you how you like your dinner. Is there a right answer? What if one gets it wrong? One will be humiliated if one shows one’s ignorance or lack of sophistication. One may be reluctant to invite one’s foodie friends over for dinner, fearing that they will sneer when one passes around the store-brought bread or tosses the salad with Kraft dressing. (Writing this essay, I wonder whether this is why so few people invite me to dinner.) Such worries are less likely to come up in connection with other domains—first, because, one is less likely to go to the opera or the cinema if one is not an opera or a movie lover, and second, because, there is no shame in being a novice in these fields. But one cannot say to one’s dinner companion “I’ve just taken up eating.”

These same facts, however, may also make foodies more prone to snobbery than enthusiasts of other domains. It is common knowledge that not everyone likes opera, or movies, or football, and it is rare to find someone who thinks that your interest or lack of it in one of these realms is a reflection of your merit as a person. But we all not only eat, we have preferences about what we eat, and so a foodie might think that these preferences ought to be formed a certain way, or based on a certain kind of consideration. She might think that a person who does not notice or care what his food tastes like, or even one who does not care very much, shows an objectionable kind of blindness to his surroundings or detachment from his body. This seems to me to be as moralistic as the anti-foodie stance that I am trying to argue against, however.

Related to this, foodies may be especially susceptible to allowing or encouraging conversations about food to go on, say, around a table, in a way that is insensitive to the interests of the other participants. Like a childless or a single person in a group that is exchanging stories about their toddlers or their weddings, or the spouse of a philosophy professor stuck in a group of his wife’s colleagues, a non-foodie can find herself bored, annoyed, and alienated from a group passionately arguing about where to get the best saag paneer, or what to do with zucchini blossoms. The fact that, in some sense, everyone is interested in food may lead a foodie wrongly to assume that everyone is interested in food in this sort of way. Note to Self and other foodies: Don’t let this happen!

So far I have been suggesting some reasons that foodies may be subject to criticism that on reflection I believe are issues for many bourgeois interests. An interest in the aesthetics of food, however, also raises a distinctive set of concerns because, unlike the other interests with which I have been comparing it, such as music, movies, and sports, what we eat is necessarily and obviously subject to evaluations along non-aesthetic dimensions as well as aesthetic ones. Since food nourishes us, we need to be concerned with the healthiness of food; since food is a massive industry, which, among other things, involves the raising and slaughtering of animals, we need to be concerned with the moral consequences of the food-related decisions we make. It is arguably urgently important that we be alert to the atrocities connected to factory farms, the environmental consequences of fertilizers and pesticides, the dehumanizing conditions to which many farmworkers are subjected, and to the ongoing obesity epidemic.

There is a stereotype of foodies as food aesthetes—that is, as people who give priority to their personal quest for interesting and delicious tastes over moral and health concerns. And there is no doubt that some foodies fit the stereotype, 6 looking away from or scoffing at those who protest the treatment of veal calves, dairy cows, and so on. But it is a stereotype, and one that seems to me increasingly obsolete.

To be sure, foodies need to beware of the motives for self-deception. Just as SUV drivers (and manufacturers) may tend to underrate the evidence of how much gas guzzlers contribute to climate change, and parents who want to send their children to private school brush off considerations about the effects of their decisions on the quality of public education, foodies may irrationally belittle moral (or for that matter health-related) arguments that would tell them that they ought to forego dishes they especially enjoy. Avoiding the books and documentaries that would make the case against eating meat or fish or dairy or foie gras in the strongest terms is no excuse for not knowing that there is anything morally problematic concerning them. So here is another note to self and other foodies: face the facts as objectively as possible; weigh the evidence; consider the arguments; and, when called for, change your habits. But, of course, this is advice to everyone, dealing, as everyone must, with the questions of when and how much and at what personal cost moral and political values should lead us to give up or constrain or reshape our interests, our habits, and our ways of life.

Happily for foodies, it is easier than it has ever been before to make some of the changes that might be at issue. The increasing interest, among chefs, foodies, and the public at large, about the moral, political, nutritional, and health consequences of our eating and food-raising practices do not stand apart from much less compete with shifts in culinary values. To the contrary, concerns about health and environment, about the treatment of animals and the loss of biodiversity, among other things, have informed the movements in haute cuisine over the past several decades. Fine dining has shifted away from heavy rich sauces, large slabs of meat, and dishes that are insensitive to regional and seasonal ingredients; now good restaurants commonly celebrate sustainably raised produce, foraged mushrooms and herbs, served in moderately sized portions. The variety of ingredients and recipes that is easily available (at least among the middle and upper classes) is greater than ever before. Where once it was a challenge for many a host to figure out what to serve a vegetarian, much less a vegan, houseguest or where one might take him to dinner, coming up with a recipe for a tasty vegan meal, made from ingredients to be found at one’s local supermarket, is now only one or two clicks on the Internet away.

So far the reasons I have offered in explanation of the antipathy toward foodies have fallen into two overlapping classes: one set, having to do with privilege and elitism, is not restricted or distinctive in its objections to foodies per se; the other applies to a stereotype to which foodies need not and should not conform. If all these reasons were to be cleared away, would the antipathy toward foodieism vanish? An anti-foodie might employ a thought experiment to answer this question, by focusing on a foodie who met the anti-foodie’s standards of moral conscientiousness—he might consider, for example, a vegan foodie who gives a suitable portion of her money and time to soup kitchens and relevant political activism. Would he still find anything morally unsavory about the foodie’s attitude and approach to food?

Of course, I can only speculate, but I suspect that a significant range of negative attitudes toward foodies and foodieism would remain. For there seems to me something about people’s attitudes to food in particular that makes foodies especially open to censure, and indeed open to censure from multiple directions. Some people, who are leery of aesthetic pursuits generally (as opposed, say, to the quest for truth or social justice), see an aesthetic interest in food as one example among others of a frivolous and unworthy pastime. While others, who might love art or dance or music, and who are therefore sympathetic to aesthetic interests of other kinds, nonetheless regard food as too lowly or otherwise unfit to be a proper object of aesthetic passion. What is it about food that makes it especially apt to arouse moral suspicion? I think that it is the fact that food is so clearly an aspect of our corporeal and animal nature.

Since ancient times, the idea of humans as rational animals has been associated with a status placing us between beasts and gods. Insofar as we are capable of reasoning and valuing and governing ourselves according to rationally chosen ends, we are thought to rise above other animals, to possess a special dignity and worth. According to this line of thought, 7 our bodily natures weigh us down, burdening us with needs and appetites, which threaten to override the more admirable parts of ourselves. If we could but shed our bodily nature and its associated needs entirely, we would be better off. 8

Is there anything to be said in favor of this way of thinking about ourselves and our bodily appetites? It is true that our appetites can be strong and excessive and can lead us astray in ways that can be harmful to ourselves and to others. This is why gluttony is listed in Aristotle’s catalogue of vices, and why, along with lust, it is included as one of the seven deadly sins. But it is one thing to want to be able to control one’s appetites, another to want to be free of them. Furthermore, it is important to recognize the difference between the desires for food that mark one out as a glutton and those that characterize the foodie. If gluttony is a sin, it is a sin of excess—that is, of desiring too much food, and allowing oneself to satisfy that desire in the face of good reasons not to. It is a kind of substance abuse. But what makes one a foodie is a desire for (aesthetic) quality not quantity. Although some foodies also, and perhaps not coincidentally, struggle against gluttonous tendencies, many do not. And for those of us who do, and whose desires for quantity are a consequence of their delight in quality, 9 the interest and joy of culinary experience is well worth the periodic need for dieting and restraint.

In any case, the idea that we should regret our bodily natures and regard our bodily appetites in purely instrumental terms has little to recommend it. Philosophically, it is not obviously coherent to imagine oneself as potentially free of one’s body, and psychologically such an alienated view of one’s physical self is in tension with full mental health. Although there are people 10 who simply do not get significant pleasure from food, people who would be happy with a diet of Soylent 11 that would minimize the time, effort, and attention required to meet their nutritional needs, they do not typically regard their own indifference to taste as a norm toward which others should aspire. And the fact that most of us recoil at the prospect of getting our nourishment from a tasteless paste squeezed from a tube suggests not only that we get more than a little pleasure from eating but also that we value eating for its own sake and not just as a means to survival. 12

Probably few people today hold so extreme an ascetic ideal as the one I have been discussing. But the traces of such views from our cultural histories may be affecting us nonetheless. It might explain, for example, why so many people refer to chocolate as one of their guilty pleasures, even though, speaking for myself, I can hardly think of a pleasure more innocent. More generally, it might account for the quasi-moral disapproval many people have toward an enthusiastic interest in the aesthetics of food that I am trying to assess today.

Thus, Tolstoy, in the course of defending his theory of art as the communication of human emotion, argues against those who think the point of art is beauty (understanding beauty to be a kind of pleasure) by comparing art to food. “To see the aim and purpose of art in the pleasure we get from it,” he writes, “is like assuming that the purpose and aim of food is the pleasure derived when consuming it,” 13 remarking parenthetically that such an assumption is made only “by people of the lowest moral development, e.g., by savages).” Such people, he goes on to say, “cannot recognize the real meaning of eating,” which is “the nourishment of the body.” 14 People whose development is more advanced, he says, understand that “the satisfaction of our taste cannot serve as a basis for our definition of the merits of food.”

But, with respect both to art and to food, Tolstoy’s talk of “ the real meaning” of the thing is uncalled for. Why think that an object or an activity, much less a whole category, like “food” or “art,” must have one and only one meaning and purpose? Such a view would presumably also claim that the point of sex is procreation, the point of clothing is warmth, the point of housing is shelter, and that the pleasure of the act or attractiveness of the object is irrelevant to its merit. But to imagine a world in which people held such attitudes and reflected them in the way they lived is to imagine a dreary and depressing world indeed.

In fairness to Tolstoy (who happens to be one of my literary heroes), what he does think important is humanity and human community. He wanted art to aim at enhancing and promoting the brotherhood of man and thought that good and great art necessarily does so. Insofar as his comments on food are meant to remind us to keep our priorities straight (to value people and their flourishing above exquisitely prepared meals, for example) we can hardly be unsympathetic. But Tolstoy goes wrong first in suggesting that caring about the pleasures of food must be in tension with caring about its nutritional value, and second in failing to realize that one can promote the brotherhood and sisterhood of men and women through mutual engagement with the aesthetics of food—through cooking and eating and enjoying food together—and not just independently of it.

In its most extreme version, the ascetic and Stoic ideal reflected in Tolstoy’s remarks judges pleasure to be at best irrelevant to the real value of food, at worst a distraction steering us away from a proper appreciation of what is truly valuable. A less extreme and more common version of the view accepts a preference for good-tasting food over bad—since one has to eat, after all, it might as well be a pleasant experience—but insists that one see this as a minor consideration. To take great pains for the sake of deliciousness, to go out of one’s way to avoid food that is bitter or bland, or even to notice too insistently on whether food is tasty or not, would be evidence of bad character and a bad set of values.

Connected to this perspective is a further view about the kinds of pleasure that food can provide—namely, low pleasures, pleasures of a kind that lower animals (“beasts”) can enjoy, pleasures that do not exploit or express our distinctive and superior humanity. This view, perhaps even more than the view that food’s real or main value is instrumental, often underlies the feeling that food is unworthy of the kind of aesthetic enthusiasm constitutive of foodies. But this view is mistaken. 15

Talk of high and low pleasures, which, in philosophy, is associated with an important passage by John Stuart Mill, is itself in bad repute, charged with being irremediably infected by elitist tendencies and values. Insofar as anti-foodies who spurn the distinction are subconsciously applying it nonetheless, consistency calls for them to get over their negative appraisal. For if, as they think, one set of pleasures or passions is as good as another, then their disapproval of foodies in particular is indefensible. Other anti-foodies, however, are likely to think that foodies take themselves to be pursuing higher pleasures, and that that is part of the problem.

Insofar as the idea of higher pleasures is inextricably identified with an objectionable elitism, I have already suggested that this is a stereotype that right-minded foodies can avoid. I myself, however, am a fan of the distinction between higher and lower pleasures, and believe that, used cautiously, it can serve a good and useful purpose. Thus, I want to argue against the idea that the pleasures of foodies are low pleasures not by questioning the very category of low pleasures, but by suggesting that when the distinction between high and low pleasures is understood properly, the pleasures of foodies are not particularly low.

What is meant by the distinction between high and low pleasures? Mill introduced it in the context of defending utilitarian moral theory against the accusation that, by identifying the ultimate end of morality as the maximization of pleasure (and the minimization of pain), it represents human nature in a degrading light, making utilitarianism “a doctrine worthy only of swine.” 16 In reply, Mill countered that the accusation itself “supposes human beings to be capable of no pleasures except those of which swine are capable.” 17 But, Mill argued, observation and introspection shows the situation to be otherwise. For there are some pleasures that, despite the fact that they bring with them, discontent, vulnerability, stress and hardship, we would not give up for any amount of other pleasures that are easier to secure.

Few human creatures would consent to be changed into any of the lower animals for a promise of the fullest allowance of a beast’s pleasures; no intelligent human being would consent to be a fool, no instructed person would be an ignoramus, no person of feeling and conscience would be selfish and base, even though they should be persuaded that the fool, the dunce, or the rascal is better satisfied with his lot than they are with theirs. . . . It is better to be a human being dissatisfied than a pig satisfied; better to be Socrates dissatisfied than a fool satisfied. And if the fool, or the pig, are of a different opinion, it is because they only know their own side of the question. 18

In explanation of these claims, Mill infers that pleasures can differ in quality as well as quantity. Those which we prefer despite the considerable costs that accompany them he considers to be “higher pleasures.” They ultimately contribute more to our happiness than the lower ones. They therefore rightly matter more to us and are of greater value.

Although the passages I quoted may fuel the worry that Mill’s distinction is inextricably bound up with a kind of intellectual if not social snobbery, it should be noted, in Mill’s defense, that even in the passage just quoted he takes the distinction to separate not just the intelligent human being from the fool but also the man of conscience from the cad, and his extended discussion of the higher pleasures explicitly mentions not only those available to “a cultivated mind” such as “the imaginations of poetry” and “the incidents of history” but also those involving and motivated by “public and private affection.” 19 The pleasures of friendship, family, and community are for Mill as distinctively human and as richly rewarding as those of science and art. Moreover, we need not interpret the pleasures of the intellect in a way that restricts them to domains associated with higher education. A distinctively human intelligence is involved in sport, in craft, in the development of skills and the exercise of tastes of all sorts. Intellectual curiosity is indeed, for Mill, a great source of happiness, but it need not be confined to the halls of the library.

In fact, it seems to me in the spirit of Mill, when he is charitably interpreted, to draw back from the tendency to use the distinction between high and low pleasures to separate some areas of interest from others—low art from high, or sport from study. His point is rather closer to what John Rawls has called the “Aristotelian principle”—namely that “other things equal, human beings enjoy the exercise of their realized capacities . . . and this enjoyment increases the more the capacity is realized, or the greater its complexity. The intuitive idea here is that human beings take more pleasure in doing something as they become more proficient at it, and of two activities they do equally well, they prefer the one calling on a larger repertoire of more intricate and subtle discriminations.” 20 The difference between high and low pleasure, in other words, has less to do with whether you prefer to watch television or go to art museums as it does with how you watch television or look at paintings, respectively.

This brings me back to a discussion of food. There is no question but that our enjoyment of food can sometimes qualify as a low pleasure. The experience of eating a peanut butter sandwich or a candy bar when we are hungry, or of having a cold beer when we are thirsty, may be similar in character to the pleasure of the much maligned swine at feeding time. Nor are these pleasures to be underestimated or scoffed at. But the fact that some pleasure in food is like this does not make the thirst-quenching potential of beer a good model for all culinary pleasure. There is no reason to think that the pleasures of eating are necessarily low pleasures, and as such unfit to be cultivated and sought out as foodies do.

Although the idea of food as a low pleasure is less commonly voiced than it once was, it still seems to me to be implicit in much anti-foodie sentiment, and so it is important to expose it and to point out its error. Two aspects of this idea are worth separating and bringing to light. One has to do with the thought that the pleasures of food are simple and cannot therefore be a domain in which one can exercise the higher faculties either as creator or appreciator. The other involves the thought that the pleasures of food are private and selfish, and therefore, when they occupy a significant place in one’s life, self-indulgent. But these ideas are not true to even the non-foodie’s experience of cooking and eating.

Anyone who has tried to make a pastry crust or a white sauce, who has had to judge when a roast or a fish is ready to come out of the oven, knows that it takes practice and skill. Anyone who has tried to get her marinara sauce just right or to do something special with the overabundance of zucchini in his garden knows that such tasks call for imagination, discernment, and creativity. And just as the preparer of food can exercise her higher faculties in making interesting and excellent dishes, so the consumer can develop her powers of discrimination and taste, allowing her to appreciate the chefs’ achievements.

The idea that the pleasures of food are private and selfish is similarly insupportable: since ancient times, “breaking bread together” has constituted a paradigm of warmth and sociability, while to make or serve food to others is commonly both intended and understood as an affirmation of love, friendship, or good will.

Even if these last considerations show that a person can exercise her higher faculties in the service of the aesthetics of food, however, an anti-foodie might still have reservations about whether one ought to do so. Two last considerations that might support the impression that food is an unworthy object of such effort and attention occur to me. Each are sometimes mentioned in the course of discussions about whether gastronomy can ever be elevated to an art form (and each, of course, is offered in support of a negative answer to that question). 21

The first has to do with the fact that the products of gastronomy are transient and ephemeral. Paintings and sculptures, not to mention cathedrals, last for a very long time; and barring certain kinds of catastrophe, particularly in our world of computer backups and i-cloud storage, poetry and literature, mathematical proofs and scientific knowledge can exist for as long as or longer than humans. Not so with a casserole, much less a soufflé. And so it can seem a frivolous waste of time and resources to put a lot of energy into making an exquisite meal.

Insofar as this criticism relies on a utilitarian perspective that reduces the value of an aesthetic activity or of an event to some quantity of “appreciation hours” experienced by those who come into contact with it or its products, it should be questioned. Such a perspective would have difficulties justifying any aesthetic activities, even cathedral-building, or indeed almost any endeavor that involves the pursuit of excellence for its own sake. Much contemporary art self-consciously rejects that view, incorporating the very fact of the works’ transience into the character and quality of the experience, somewhat like Tibetan sand paintings, or improvisational jazz. 22

Further, this criticism too closely identifies the pleasures of the foodie—both the foodie cook and the foodie consumer—with the pleasures respectively of making and eating individual dishes. It thus neglects both the fact that recipes are long-lasting, thus vastly extending the permanence of a chef’s creation and the considerable interest to be found in observing or creating variations on a theme (say, the theme of a beef stew) or transformations in taste. We need not enter into a debate about whether cooking is an art to recognize the aptness of an analogy between cooking and music: as performers (may) play from musical scores, so cooks (may) use recipes, and as music lovers may take pleasure in comparing different renditions of a Bach sonata, so may the foodie enjoy sampling several versions of a crème brûlée.

The second consideration for continuing to judge food as an unworthy object on which to direct serious effort and expense is that food cannot carry the kind of cognitive content that paintings, literature, or even music, can. It cannot communicate human emotion; it cannot tell a story; it cannot offer insight into the human condition. This thought, perhaps more than any other, may explain the low esteem, if not outright skepticism, in which the aesthetics of food is often held, encouraging the idea that unlike the rewards one can get from an appreciation of fine arts such as poetry and drama, the pleasures of food are necessarily dumb.

To an extent, the critic who cites this consideration has a point: a dish, or a meal, or a menu, cannot comment on man’s inhumanity to man, it cannot teach us about the stages of grief, or inspire us to adopt a more expansive and deeper commitment to justice. 23 But, as many others have pointed out, neither can a Turkish rug or an Amish quilt, or a piece of Chinese ceramics. Not every art needs to be classified as a fine art. Not every aesthetic experience needs to be compared to War and Peace or the Sistine Chapel.

What is less often noted, but I think equally important, is the fact that even if food cannot have representational much less propositional content, a wealth of information, both natural and cultural, can inform and affect both the preparation of food and the aesthetic experience of the attentive consumer, in ways that suggest that, if “meaning” and “emotion” are generously interpreted, food may be said to convey meaning and emotion after all. 24

When a botanist walks through the woods, she sees something different from that of the unschooled nature lover. A child’s first exposure to opera is quite a different experience from that of a person who has heard and attended a lot of them. One’s reaction to a vase of flowers is apt to shift dramatically upon learning that the lilies that one took to be natural are actually made of silk. The information that the vivid colors of a sunset are a result of pollution may (for better or worse) affect its beauty.

How things taste to us is similarly affected by a wide range of information and knowledge. It is common for a person who enjoys the first bite of meat on his plate to lose his appetite for it upon learning that it is horsemeat or tongue. A pie may taste better when one knows that one’s friend made it from scratch than it would have if one had assumed it was bought from a store. And the taste of foods may become more or less appealing as one becomes more keenly aware of their relation to health. (When a person complains that a dessert is “too rich”—a complaint, I confess, I have never been tempted to make—it is usually meant as an aesthetic description, but it is one that I suspect is often based subliminally on one’s beliefs about its effects on one’s physique or one’s circulatory system.)

The associations a food or a dish has to cultural traditions, geography, and one’s own personal history, also affect the quality of one’s experience of it. The familiar category of comfort food is an implicit acknowledgment of this, as is the importance many attach to having the same dishes on Christmas every year. The appearance of shad roe marks the first signs of spring—and conversely, the first signs of spring mark the availability of shad roe! To many people collard greens implicitly allude to the American South; pavlovas “mean” Australia.

The chef who is aware of these associations can exploit them, making dishes and serving meals to suit particular occasions, dishes that express personality and that celebrate seasons, locations, cultures, and more. And while almost all of us are affected by such associations involuntarily and subconsciously, foodies are apt to delight in these connections. By expanding their culinary knowledge as well as refining their powers of taste discrimination, their tasting and eating experiences are enriched.

As I hope my examples have suggested, one need not be a foodie for the aesthetic quality and character of food to affect you. A family reunion, a religious ritual, a romantic picnic can be immeasurably enhanced by the inclusion of the right kind of food prepared in the (or in a) right kind of way, as it can be significantly marred by the opposite. Once one notices how much the aesthetic aspects of food affect people’s lives, it seems to me that the thought that food is a low pleasure, unworthy of strong interest or attention, should simply disappear. The fact that that thought and its subconscious effects on our values have survived for so long seems to me plausibly explained by a false ideology distorting our understanding of our own experience.

But once we have banished that thought, no basis for moral or quasi-moral disapproval of foodieism remains. A strong, even passionate interest in the aesthetics of food is no more morally questionable than a passionate interest in opera or basketball. Although one can be an ethically better or worse foodie (as one can be an ethically better or worse sports fan or opera lover), there is no cause to object to foodieism as such.

As I mentioned near the beginning of this essay, there may be reasons, connected to the universal but non-aesthetic role that food plays in our lives, that explain why foodies might be especially prone to certain sorts of obnoxious behaviors, and why non-foodies might be especially sensitive to foodies’ real or imagined faults. But I want to conclude by bringing out a way that this same universality also provides a reason not just for defending foodieism as morally permissible but for positively supporting it, as an interest that, as hobbies and other extracurricular activities go, has an exceptional potential to be ethically good.

The psychologist Jonathan Haidt, citing the work of Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, describes the phenomenon of “vital engagement” which is characteristic of people who live exceptionally rewarding lives. Such people, Haidt writes, typically find in themselves some deep interest or activity to which they are drawn, “but then, gradually . . . [they weave] an ever more encompassing web of knowledge, action, identity, and relationships.” As an example, he mentions a student in his class who was passionate about horses. As a child, she had begged her parents for riding lessons, and over time, in addition to becoming an expert equestrian, she began to study the history of horses, to develop a community of friends through riding, and so on. Her relationship with horses became an important part of her identity—it gave meaning as well as happiness to her life. 25

I expect that this phenomenon of vital engagement will be familiar to many of you. To a considerable extent, it explains how a deep interest in virtually any morally innocent topic or activity—sports or the arts, horses or philosophy, stamp-collecting, Star Trek or Dungeons and Dragons—can be an opportunity to exercise one’s higher faculties, to develop expertise, to acquire knowledge, to expand one’s communities of friends. But food is, if you’ll pardon the pun, an especially fruitful interest with which to vitally engage.

Because our need for food is universal and essential, its history is as long and its geography as wide as the history and geography of humanity itself. The activities of growing or procuring food, of preparing food, and of eating food are central to every culture. For people who are interested in the aesthetics of food—in other words, for foodies—vital engagement is apt to connect one not just to high-end restaurants and like-minded people with similar levels of education and income. It will also connect one to communities and ways of life all around the world. An interest in food leads to an interest in Indian food, Guatemalan food, Ethiopian food, and so on, and from there to an interest in the attitudes and customs, the rituals and holidays, in which specific foods and dishes have their place. 26 An interest and joy in the aesthetics of food can thus lead us to an expanded and strengthened appreciation and delight in human diversity and ingenuity. It can serve, much more than most interests, as a window to the world.

In addition, the universal and basic need for food can take vital engagement with the aesthetics of food in explicitly political and ethical directions. For an interest in food that is grounded in aesthetic concerns can spark an interest in other aspects of food and our relation to it. It can make one attentive to articles and programs that inform one of objectionable farming practices or acquaint one with the environmental effects of the fishing industry. Foodies, wanting to share their delight in good-tasting food, may be especially likely to get involved in campaigns to improve the quality of school lunches, to support urban farms, and to support ways of bringing high-quality food products and restaurants to poor and struggling neighborhoods. In other words, the phenomenon of vital engagement may make it more likely rather than less that a person who is deeply interested in the aesthetics of food will develop an interest in the ethics of food. These interests and values, far from being in tension, can complement and enhance each other.

I conclude therefore that foodies, as a self-identified group, have nothing to be ashamed of. Not only is there nothing morally wrong with being a foodie, being a foodie has the potential to influence and contribute to one’s life in particularly rich and ethically rewarding ways. Like everyone else, foodies must take care to keep their interests in perspective; they should avoid moralizing and expecting everyone to care about food in the way and to the degree that they do; they should be willing to consider and acknowledge facts that, in conjunction with moral principles, call for the sacrifice of certain culinary pleasures. Ideally, a foodie’s interest in the aesthetics of food will lead to an interest in promoting and supporting projects that are rightly advocated by those whose main focus is in food ethics. But, of course, if these projects are rightly advocated, we all ought to support them, foodies and non-foodies alike.

Indeed, one might argue that the qualification of relative frivolity is unnecessary—that if ever there were a topic that were absolutely frivolous, this would be one.

Roberto A. Ferdman, “I will never use the word ‘foodie.’ I will never use the word ‘foodie.’ I will never . . .” https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/03/01/why-the-word-foodie-is-terrible-and-needs-to-go-away/?tid=sm_tw . I am told that the philosopher Gerald Dworkin is responsible for suggesting the word to journalist Paul Levy, who, with Ann Barr, coauthored The Official Foodie Handbook , which brought the word to public attention.

The first book by a foodie I ever read (and which I enthusiastically recommend) was Calvin Trillin’s   American Fried (New York: Penguin Books, 1975) , whom it would be very misleading to call a gourmet. Thus in one memorable passage (22), Trillin asks some locals in Muskogee, Oklahoma, if they knew where he could get some good barbecue: “One barbecue place was mentioned, but something about the way it was mentioned made me suspicious.

‘They have plates there?’ I asked. . . . ‘Of course they have plates,’ [the local man] said.

‘You have any other barbecue restaurants around here?’ I asked. I have eaten fine barbecue on plates . . . but I would hesitate to eat barbecue in a place that has plates ‘of course’ or ‘naturally’ or ‘certainly.’ ”

No doubt this attitude is more prevalent in some cultures than in others.

Strictly speaking, most of us do not expect such things, but there are people—for example, members of the effective altruism movement—with more demanding standards.

At an event during Aspen’s annual food and wine festival a few years ago, the group attending a reception hosted by the chefs of a Los Angeles restaurant was said to burst into applause when one of the chefs expressed gratitude that in Colorado, foie gras was still legal.

This view has its roots in Plato and the Stoics and is present in a branch of Christianity.

See also the essays in this volume by Katja Vogt, Henrik Lagerlund, and Aaron Garrett and John Grey.

In contrast to the sentiment of the women Woody Allen describes in the opening of Annie Hall : First woman: “Boy, the food at this place is really terrible.” Second woman: “Yeah, I know; and such small portions.”

Including impressive and wonderful people, such as Oliver Sacks, Derek Parfit, and Ludwig Wittgenstein, to name just a few who have come to my attention.

Soylent is a drink or a powder that can be mixed with water, meant to serve as a replacement for meals. It is claimed by its creators to be a nutritionally complete food source. As recommended by its manufacturer Rosa Labs, “Soylent frees up your already burdened schedule and budget by saving you the time and money spent shopping, cooking, and cleaning while making you healthier” (from http://www.rosalabs.com/about/ ). See also https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGkLWjuiakQ .

In the Omnivore’s Dilemma (New York: Penguin, 2006) , Michael Pollan remarks, about the human desire to eat meat, that it “is not, as the animal rightists would have it, a trivial matter, a mere gastronomic preference. By the same token, we might call sex—also now technically unnecessary for reproduction—a mere recreational preference” (315). Even if one disagrees with Pollan about meat-eating, the analogy between sex and eating as such seems apt.

Leo Tolstoy , What is Art? (Indianapolis, IN: Liberal Arts Press, 1960), 46 .

Ibid. , 46 .

See also Frank Sibley , “Tastes, Smells, and Aesthetics,” in Sibley’s Approach to Aesthetics: Collected Papers on Philosophical Aesthetics (New York: Oxford University Press, 2001) , for further discussion of this point.

John Stuart Mill , Utilitarianism (Indianapolis, IN: Hackett, 2001), 7 .

Ibid. , 8 .

Ibid. , 9–10 .

Ibid. , 14 .

John Rawls , A Theory of Justice (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1971), 426 . And Mill himself: “Now it is an unquestionable fact that those who are equally acquainted with and equally capable of appreciating and enjoying both do give a most marked preference to the manner of existence which employs their higher faculties” ( Mill, Utilitarianism , 9).

For a complementary discussion of the aesthetics of food that argues that food is an art but a minor one, see Elizabeth Telfer , “Food as Art,” in Food for Thought , by Elizabeth Telfer (London: Routledge, 1996) .

The movie Babette’s Feast —maybe the best food movie of all time—makes an eloquent case against this view of a kind that expository philosophical writing cannot capture.

Some might wonder whether, if a meal could do any of these things, anyone would want to eat it!

Oenophiles make similar claims about their experience of wines. See also Caroline Korsmeyer , Making Sense of Taste (Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 1999) , ch. 4; and Caroline Korsmeyer , “Delightful, Delicious, Disgusting,” Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism 60 (2002): 3 .

In Susan Wolf , Meaning in Life and Why It Matters (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2010), 94–95 .

See also Lee McBride’s essay, in this volume.

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Food Ethics

Paul Pojman (editor), 2011, Wadsworth/Cengage Learning (Boston, 978-1-111-77230-7, 199 pp.)

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  • Volume 10 , pages 249–251, ( 2013 )

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Mepham, B. Food Ethics . Bioethical Inquiry 10 , 249–251 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11673-013-9432-0

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food ethics essay topics

A Journal of the Societies for Agricultural and Food Ethics

Aims and scope

Food Ethics is a global trans-, multi- and interdisciplinary, as well as non-partisan and cross-cultural forum for academic discussions on food ethics. Thematically, the journal spans the whole value chain from producer to consumer, including important agents such as processing industry and retailers. It covers all aspects related to the production and consumption of human food, and it has a focus on the utilization of seafood, crops and plants, and animals . Environmental issues such as the sustainable use of land areas and the natural resources, e.g. freshwater, are included in the thematic focus, and special attention is given to the development and use of modern technology, e.g. biotechnology, as a way to improve global food security. Attention is also paid to issues like animal welfare and fair trade, as well as just and democratic governance of the value chains. Food security, food safety and sovereignty, rights and responsibilities, as well as cultural determinants and frameworks of understanding food are natural thematic focal points.    Contributions are encouraged from a wide range of fields of scholarly research such as natural science, health and medicine, veterinary science, social sciences, business administration, law, philosophy, economics, ecology, history, and ethics . However, all published contributions need to make the ethical issues and value aspects that are at stake in the work explicit. Working out the ethical dilemmas involved, describing the inherent value conflicts, analysing normative guidance for policy and management, and pointing to consequences of changing the range of objects with considerable moral standing, are all possible ways to address ethical issues related to food. Critical, normative and descriptive analyses and contributions that relate to training and teaching of food ethics are welcome. Food Ethics publishes the following types of papers: Editorials (including obituaries), Research articles , Conceptual articles , Discussion papers (including papers on methodology), State-of-the-art reviews , Brief Communications , Short Policy Briefs , Letters to the Editor , and Book Reviews . For more details, consult our submission guidelines. Type of paper:   Editorial (including obituaries) - At the discretion of the EiC. Occasionally the journal will publish Editorials. These contributions will discuss or introduce any topic which the Editor-in-Chief, a member of the Editorial Board, or invited Special Issue editor finds of special relevance to the Food Ethics readership. Sometimes an Editorial may introduce the topic of a special issue / collection of articles. While editorials in general will not be peer-reviewed, the EiC may ask others, e.g. from the Editorial Board, to critically review the Editorial. Editorials are written by the EiC, or upon invitation from the EiC by members of the Editorial Board or a Special Issue Editor. Obituaries about people who have been central in the field of food ethics can also be published. Research article Double-blind peer review - Research articles present original empirical research on the basis of data which are presented in the paper, and analysed with an appropriate method. The topic of the research article should be relevant to the field of food ethics. The minimum length of the paper is approx. 5000 words, while the maximum length is approx. 15000 words. A typical recommended length is between 10000 and 12000 words. Only in rare exceptions can papers be granted a greater length. The empirical findings need to be contextualised within an ethical or value-based framework. - A research article is peer-reviewed by at least two reviewers, occasionally by three or more reviewers.  Conceptual articles - Double-blind peer review - A conceptual article presents arguments and analyses of a theme within food ethics based on current or past contributions and deliberations from philosophy, ethics, law, or theology. Some papers may also discuss foundational issues or terms in scientific theories, like e.g. sustainability or resilience, and what bearing they have on food ethics. Balanced argumentation is the decisive mark of all such papers. A typical recommended length is between 10000 and 12000 words.   – Conceptual articles are peer-reviewed by at least two reviewers, occasionally by three or more reviewers.  Discussion papers (including methodological papers) Double-blind peer review - Discussion papers are among the key contributions in Food Ethics. Typically, they contextualise issues in food ethics, or relate to current trends / ideas which have a bearing on food ethics. Some discussion papers may take up methodological issues, for instance from practical ethics or transdisciplinary research, and aim for critical or novel approaches to study themes in food ethics. The maximum length is 12000 words, while the typical length is between 5000 and 10000 words. Discussion papers are peer-reviewed with a view to their merits as thought-provoking essays that are relevant to ongoing trends, or that may stimulate new discussions and novel societal deliberations. However, academic quality criteria such as consistency, coherence, argumentative strength, and originality still apply, while not excluding subjective statements or normative appeals. State-of-the-Art-Reviews - Double-blind peer review - State-of-the-Art-Reviews provide an informative and balanced overview over a sub-theme or specific discussion within food ethics. They need to scan the most salient literature over a defined time-period, and present the flow of argumentation between different contributions. A well-balanced presentation of diverse positions and contributions is the main good-making feature of these review papers. A very comprehensive and informative list of references is always required. A typical length is between 8000 and 12000 words. Contributions within this category are often on the basis of an invitation from the EiC. Brief Communications - Double-blind review plus editorial review - A Brief Communication is an article of not more than approx. 2500 words which reports on new or ongoing research, sometimes also on results of conferences or workshops, which are deemed by the EiC to be of great importance to the readership of Food Ethics. Transparency and traceability of the reported event or research is important. Editorial review will in all cases supplement one or two non-editorial reviews. Short Policy Briefs - Double-blind review plus editorial review - Short Policy Briefs address policy- and decision-makers directly. It is crucial that they are explicit about level and scope of decision-making. The (research) background for the policy recommendations needs to be clearly referenced. Clear language, avoidance of jargon, and action-orientation is expected. The typical length is between 1500 and 2500 words. Editorial review will in all cases supplement one or two non-editorial reviews. Letters to the Editor - At the discretion of the EiC - Letters to the Editor are short contributions of up to 1500, max. 2000 words. A Letter to the Editor draws attention to a major problem in the field of food ethics, provides a short refutation or correction of claims made in earlier publication in Food Ethics, or comments on current trends in (science-) policy which impact negatively on responsible research and innovation in the fields targeted by Food Ethics. Letters do not need extensive references, but include only those which are central for the claim. Book Reviews - Editorial review Book reviews are typically invited contributions, initiated by the Review Editor, or by the EiC. The review editor is responsible for the review of the contributions. Everyone, including publishers and authors of books, is welcome to propose a book review to the journal. The review itself should, however, not be submitted without invitation from the Review Editor. A typical book review is approx. 1500-3000 words.

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Great argumentative essay topics about food with essay prompts, bob cardens.

  • July 31, 2022
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It can be hard to think of a good Argumentative Essay Topics About Food. You want something that will engage your audience and get them thinking, but you also need to pick a topic that you feel passionate about. In this article, we’ll give you a list of some great Argumentative Essay Topics About Food to get you started!

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Great Argumentative Essay Topics About Food

Differences Between Food Intoxication and Food Infection

Essay Prompt: Food infections occur when individuals consume food contaminated by infectious organisms such as bacteria, viruses, parasites, and toxins. Food contamination can happen during the production of food.

Food as a Way to Showcase African Americans’ Identity

Essay Prompt: For the majority, there is not much to think about food. Food is simply a means to an end. We eat so we could be full. However, others understand that food is not just a means. They understand that what they eat is a representation of who they are.

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Why Do People Waste Food?

Essay Prompt: Evidence reveals that the food wasted annually could be enough to feed an enormous number of people. There are two main reasons why people waste food. First, when people visit restaurants, they are usually starving. Consequently, they are likely to order more food than they need.

The Food we Eat

Essay Prompt: The food we eat contains nutrients necessary for nourishing and proper functioning of the body. It is important to understand well the food we put into our mouths because it determines our health and wellbeing. The food we eat contains nutrients such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, minerals, and vitamins…

Food Preference Identifies Identity

Essay Prompt: Although food variations can be found anywhere in the world whether it is local or adopted; that people are liking food regardless of their roots and preferences; those food varieties these days are being adopted and reformulated from culture to culture, food variation identifies the individual’s culture.  

Please watch the documentary “Food Chains”. Literature & Language

Essay Prompt: Food Chains is a documentary that was produced by Eva Longoria on November 24, 2014. This documentary reveals how farmworkers in the United States are abused by the multibillion-dollar supermarkets and food industries

Essay Prompt: Food wastage refers to the loss of unconsumed food. Food wastage occurs in various stages, such as production, processing, distribution, retail, and consumption. Conversely, food loss refers to the removal of food intended for consumption from the food chain. In most cases, food that ends up.

Unique Argumentative Essay Topics About Food

The topic is fast Food and health

Essay Prompt: Fast food refers to types of foods that are prepared within a short time before they are served. They are relatively cheaper than ordinary food cooked in homes. In most restaurants, fast foods are readily available and one does not need time to wait for it to be prepared.  

Food Security and Reasons Why LDCs Are Food-Deficit Countries

Essay Prompt: Food security entails the availability of adequate, nutritious, sufficient, and safe food that enable people to maintain their health and have active lives. In particular, food security comprises of three primary elements, namely availability, access, and utilization. (Argumentative Essay Topics About Food)

The Slow Food Movement will improve the Condition of the Environment

Essay Prompt: The slow food movement has been popularized due to the positive effects that it has on the environment. The movement supports the consumption of locally manufactured food instead of imported foods, which ultimately cuts the use of fossil fuel in the transportation of food.

The Concept of Right to Food, Justice, and Sovereignty and the Food Insecurity

Essay Prompt: From the video, key concepts discussed are the right to food, justice, and sovereignty. Every human being has a right to food, which involves the right to have adequate food which is correspondent to their cultural tradition, as well as enhance physical and mental status for a dignified and fulfilling life.

Here are additional  60+ Top And Best Argumentative Essay Topics For Different Contexts

Food Policy and Public Health’s Impacts on Mexican Food System

Essay Prompt: Food policy and public health are always a major concern to different countries across the globe. Food policy is the way a government manages and regulates the food system and industry, the laws governing the trading of food products and inputs.

Food History. Could slow Food be the best choice for producing Food for humanity?

Essay Prompt: Slow Food mainly seeks to attain the goal of producing food that is good, clean, and fair. Additionally, it also seeks to continue feeding the world without necessarily harming the environment. Unique Argumentative Essay Topics About Food.

Find out more on  Argumentative Essay Topics About Social Media [Updated]

Reflection on the Lecture About Food Justice

Essay Prompt: This lecture explores diverse concepts, with food justice attracting significant attention. Food justice ensures that everybody acquires access to nutritional and affordable food, not forgetting the safety of those involved in food production.

Research Paper Topics on Food

Cause and Effect Eating out at Fast Food

Essay Prompt: Fast food was made famous in the 1950s through Mc Donald’s company. The industry has been growing vast in the past years. This has been a result of the high demand from customers and improvements in the products and services.

Facts Impacting Food Choices

Essay Prompt: The state of human health is predominantly a faction of food choices that an individual makes every day. My daily food choices are mostly affected by cultural influences, time, and cost. My cultural background affects my daily food choices.

How Food Affects Human Health

Essay Prompt: Currently, the numbers of teenagers with poor eating habits have drastically improved as the sizes of fast-food restaurants also increase. Specifically, the issue has been observed in the US where several new fast-food businesses continue to emerge which produce unhealthy food products.

Global Food Politics

Essay Prompt: After viewing the week eight lecture recording, different key concepts can be unpacked from the discussion, such as student overall essay performance, global food politics, and diabetics. Global food politics is one of the critical concepts that caught my attention.

Traceability, Suitability, and Regenerative Agriculture in Food Supply Chain

Essay Prompt: The Food Industry plays a significant part in providing fundamental necessities and essentials with which diverse human behaviors and activities are given. When food is harvested or manufactured, it must go through several processes.

How can Food supply chains prepare for the future in terms of traceability, suitability, and regenerative agriculture?

Food Insecurity and the Strategies for Solving It

Essay Prompt: A key concept that was clarified in the Zoom Lecture is food insecurity. Food insecurity is an issue that faces a significant number of households globally. During the pandemic, many people experienced food insecurity.

Eating Unhealthily and Our Expectations in How Others Eat

Essay Prompt: Is It Ethical to Eat Unhealthily? People’s food intake comprises the food systems, which are composed of elements such as the workforce, infrastructures, environment, institutions, and other activities associated with food.

How should a developing country improve its Food security? Select a single developing country to consider?

Essay Prompt: Food is critical to human sustenance. Through mankind’s journey, food has been front and center of major events including wars, social rituals, worship and child-bearing.

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Should Ban or Limit GMO Food

Essay Prompt: In the recent years, the GMO foods have flooded the consumer market with over 30,000 different food products.

Global Food Politics: The Food System

Essay Prompt: The movement of people across Mexico and the USA has been on the rise in recent years. There have been several cases of undocumented migration. According to the zoom meeting lecture, the policies put on the line to prevent the undocumented migration of people have not been effective.

Pros of a Single Food Agency

Essay Prompt: Master’s level Essay: Pros of a Single Food Agency: What are some of the pros and cons of creating a single food agency?

Food Industry’s System Structure and Misaligned Interests with Public Health

Essay Prompt: The food industry has introduced a fierce competition for consumers’ money through aggressive advertising efforts and their display of products on supermarket shelves. The fierce competition imposes poor diets worldwide, characterized by immense consumption of ultra-processed packaged food products manufactured.

Why People Work to Reduce Food Wastage?

Essay Prompt: The primary reason why people work to reduce food wastage is because of hunger and saving the resources used to produce food; for example, 28 percent of global land coverage is used for producing food, which eventually goes to waste. Not everybody can afford to buy food from the supermarket, and the grocery.

Is GMO Food safe? They are more nutritious. FDA has approved GMO Foods

Essay Prompt: The safety of GMO foods has sparked heated debates and, in many countries, there is legislation on their consumption. The proponents of GMO foods assert that they cannot be dismissed as categorically harmful….

Write a topic About Food that affects health. Is GMO Food safe?…

The Relationship Between Overproduction and Hunger with the Commodification of Food

Essay Prompt: A commodity is a primary resource utilized as a raw material in manufacturing goods and services. Coffee, beans, and wheat are just a few examples of commodities. The transformation of resources and services into commodities is a significant factor influencing all cultures.

You can also check out  150+ Top-Notch Argumentative Essay Topic Ideas

Identifying the Meaning of Organic

Essay Prompt: Organic implies that the food or agricultural products meet quality standards without the use of synthetic chemicals and genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Fruits, vegetables, grains, and even meat can be produced organically but is mostly the food crops than meat…

College Students Who Go Full Time to School Should Be Able to Get Free Food

Essay Prompt: While in high school, many students yearn for the opportunity to complete their studies and join college little do they know what one goes through in college. College comes with huge expenses and it may be costlier for those who reside in the campus.

Food Symbolism in Society

Essay Prompt: Research on food thrives, from the history of contradictory types of charge to the relationship between provisioning and values, gender responsibilities, and eating maladies.

Raw Fresh Foods versus Cooked Processed Foods: Which is better for the Body?

Essay Prompt: The irony that while most people agree that raw fresh foods are better for the body and yet most people also eat more processed food than fresh food.

Here’s a sample argumentative essay outline you can use for your food essay

In this article, we'll give you a list of some great argumentative essay topics about food to get you started!

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180 Ethics Topics & Ethical Questions to Debate

Our code of ethics is derived from what we think is right or wrong. On top of that, we have to agree to the moral standards established by the society we live in. Conventional norms generally label theft, murder, or harassment as bad. However, there are many influences that impact our considerations and understanding of ethics.

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Ethics is a branch of philosophy that studies moral issues. This article outlines the three different types of ethics and presents a list of compelling ethics topics for essays and research papers, as well as ethical questions to debate.

You don’t know how to write about ethics or which ethical argument topic to choose for your paper? Maybe your assignment deadline is dreadfully looming over you? Our custom writing service is happy to help you craft a fantastic essay on ethics whenever the need arises.

🔝 Top 10 Ethical Topics

  • 🧑🤝🧑Types of Ethics
  • 🤔 Ethical Issues
  • 🖥️ Computer Ethics
  • 🧬 Bioethics
  • 🚓👮 Criminal Justice
  • ⚖️ Ethical Dilemmas

⭐ Top 10 Ethics Topics to Debate

😈 ethical questions to debate, 🔍 references.

  • Religious beliefs vs. medical care
  • Issues behind unpaid internships
  • Toxic environment at the workplace
  • The dilemma of reporting an accident
  • Should one’s political leanings be private?
  • The limits of doctor-patient confidentiality
  • Is it ethical to pay children for good grades?
  • Ethics at the workplace and discrimination
  • Should social media be allowed at the workplace?
  • Promotion of environmental responsibility in business

🧑🤝🧑 Types of Ethics

Modern philosophy splits ethics into three groups: metaethics, normative ethics, and applied ethics.

  • The core question of metaethics is: “What is morality, and where does it come from?” It is also concerned with the emergence of human values, motivation, and reasoning.
  • Normative ethics seeks to answer the question, “How should I act?” An example of a normative moral theory is Kant’s Categorical Imperative: Act only according to that maxim whereby you can, at the same time, will that it should become a universal law . In other words: be kind.
  • Applied ethics seeks to apply moral considerations into real-life controversial subjects. Its contents can vary greatly and touch bioethics as well as criminal justice. It studies specific actions and practices from the point of moral acceptance.

Virtues are necessary.

However, ethics does not end with these three types. Over the centuries, philosophers have proposed various ethical theories. Their four general categories are deontological, utilitarian, right, and virtue ethics.

  • A deontologist is a person with a set of moral duties from which they will not adhere. When faced with an ethical conflict, they will always act according to their self-proclaimed obligations.
  • For a utilitarian , a decision needs to yield the greatest benefit for the majority.
  • If rights are the root of an ethical theory, these are the highest priority. A person’s rights can either be established in a society by law or bestowed from one individual upon another.
  • Judging someone by virtue means considering a person’s character rather than their actions. Here, an individual’s reputation, motivation, and ethics play a crucial role.

Now that you know the basics, you have the perfect ground to start your ethics essay.

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🤔 Ethical Topics for an Essay

Ethical issues are situations in which an individual needs to evaluate which course of action is morally right. Essays on this topic shine a light on difficult questions. Therefore, students need to defend their position convincingly.

  • Discuss what we should do about climate change . 
  • What are the moral problems surrounding abortion ? 
  • Can we still justify eating meat? 
  • Investigate the use of plastic in the beauty industry. 
  • Is it unethical to be extremely rich? 
  • Should you buy Nestlé products despite the fact that the company privatizes water? 
  • Is the unequal distribution of wealth unethical? 
  • Discuss how workplace ethics should take sexism into account. 
  • What can we do to combat racism ? 
  • Why are LGBT + people discriminated against? 
  • Should euthanasia be legal? 
  • Can war be ethical? 
  • Should schools punish students for attending the Fridays for Future protests? 
  • Would drug use be unethical if it were legal? 
  • Explain the moral problems that come with automating jobs . 

The Ten Commandments.

  • Is it ethical to hire someone to do assignments for you? 
  • How far should everyone’s right to privacy go? 
  • Is using animals for scientific testing unethical? 
  • How should governments deal with refugees ? 
  • Discuss the carbon impact of having children. 
  • Can modern societies still be held accountable for what their nation did in the past? 
  • Analyze the benefits and disadvantages of universal income . 
  • How much control should the state have on the press? 
  • Should schools teach religion ? 
  • What are ethical concerns regarding downloading media from the internet? 

🖥️ Computer Ethics Essay Topics

The advent of information technology has altered every aspect of our lives. Computer ethics applies traditional moral theories to everything surrounding computers and cyber security. The list below contains enthralling ethical topics concerned with the realm of computing.

  • How much work should we leave entirely to computers? 
  • Discuss the dangers of storing vulnerable data online. 
  • Are computers secure enough to contain so much information about our lives? 
  • Discuss if hacking can be morally justified. 
  • Examine privacy-related concerns regarding computers . 
  • Should all software be free? 
  • How can you legitimize the possession of a computer algorithm patent? 
  • What can be done to prevent cyberbullying ? 
  • Investigate the moral effects anonymity has on internet users. 
  • Whose laws apply if you wish to protect your rights online? 
  • Discuss how the necessity to own a computer impacts poorer nations and people. 
  • Which ethical problems can people face due to the internet’s possibilities? 
  • When is sabotaging another person’s computer justified? 
  • Analyze the social responsibility that comes with developing new software. 
  • Are computer crimes less harmful than crimes against humans? 
  • Who owns information that is distributed online? 
  • What is more important: easy accessibility or privacy? 
  • Investigate the moral problems associated with AI . 
  • If a computer makes a critical mistake, whose fault is it? 
  • Discuss the importance of netiquette. 
  • How should tech companies deal with ethical problems? 
  • Can AI algorithms ensure ethical behavior? 
  • Why do tech companies need ethics boards? 
  • Which ethical conflicts appear when using drones ? 
  • Investigate racial bias in facial recognition systems. 

🏅 Sports Ethics Topics for a Paper

Morality in sports is based on integrity, respect, responsibility, and fairness. Often, this puts athletes into a dilemma: do I want to be ethical, or do I want to win? Answering these questions is not always easy. The following list compiles sports topics for a research paper on ethics.

  • What are moral complications when using enhancement drugs? 
  • Is gamesmanship unethical? 
  • How important is ethics in sports? 
  • Discuss the moral responsibilities of athletes . 
  • What are ethical reasons to pay college athletes ? 
  • Investigate the ethical implications of kneeling for the national anthem . 
  • Can college sports and the principles of higher education go hand in hand? 
  • Investigate the sexist bias in sports. 
  • Was it selfish when the American female soccer team went to court to demand equal pay? 

Thomas A. Edison quote.

  • What moral obligations do universities have towards their athletes? 
  • When can you justify cheating ? 
  • Concerning the environment, how can professional sports events be ethical? 
  • Which ethical issues do healthcare workers have concerning sportspeople? 
  • Which moral duties do teams’ coaches have? 
  • Are the extremely high salaries of sports professionals justified? 
  • In 2003, the Olympics abolished the wild card system. Was that fair? 
  • Because of the Paralympics, disabled athletes cannot take part in the real Olympics. Is that discriminatory? 
  • Discuss how money influences the fairness of a sport. 
  • Debate if and how children are exploited to become elite athletes. 
  • Which moral duties should a good sport follow? 
  • How much should parents get involved in their child’s physical education ? 
  • Investigate if everyday codes of ethics should apply to sports. 
  • Discuss the ethical implications of motorsports. 
  • Who is responsible if a player gets injured? 
  • Are referees always fair? 

🧬 Bioethics Topics for an Essay

Bioethics comes into play when we talk about life and health. It expands from genetics to neurology and even plastic surgery. In the name of the common good, researchers often find themselves in conflicting positions. This makes bioethics an especially exciting topic to write about.

  • Discuss the moral conflicts of genetic engineering . 
  • What are the ethical responsibilities associated with using CRISPR ? 
  • Investigate the problems of stem cell research . 
  • When can humans be used for drug testing ? 
  • Should vaccinations be mandatory for everyone? 
  • Investigate the ethics that apply to a medical worker. 
  • Discuss the harmful effects of plastic surgery . 
  • Should a person who is brain dead be kept alive? 
  • Is it just that medical care is linked to an individual’s ability to pay? 
  • Should everyone be an organ donor by default? 
  • What is more important: a person’s right to privacy or the information of at-risk relatives? 
  • Is prenatal invasive testing ethical? 
  • Should neuroenhancement drugs be legal? 
  • Discuss ethical conflicts concerning Disclosure and Barring Service. 
  • Is it ethical to improve memory functions with brain stimulation ? 
  • Analyze the ethical issues concerning precision medicine. 
  • What are the problems of surrogacy ? 
  • Should medical personnel collect healthy tissues of a deceased person without their consent? 

Bioethics is closely connected with the fields of technology, medicine, politics, philosophy, and law,

  • What should be done with the child of a brain-dead pregnant woman? 
  • How important is a subject’s anonymity during research? 
  • Discuss the ethics of shared decision-making . 
  • How much responsibility do mentally challenged people carry for their actions? 
  • Was Sweden right not to impose strict lockdown rules during the COVID-19 pandemic? 
  • To what extent are businesses responsible for their employees’ health? 
  • Should universal healthcare be free? 

🚓👮 Criminal Justice Ethics Topics to Write About

Law enforcers should always act ethically. Unfortunately, it is not always the case. Police officers and attorneys often end up in morally ambiguous situations. In many cases, they don’t do what the public deems the right thing. Below are the examples of criminal justice ethics topics.

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  • When is it legitimate for a police officer to use violence? 
  • How can an officer remain impartial? 
  • Should law enforcement visibly wear guns in public? 
  • How much force is too much? 
  • Investigate possible ethical implications associated with true crime podcasts. 
  • Should prostitution be legal in the US? 
  • How ethical is interrogation ? 
  • Can torture be justified? 
  • Discuss the ethical consequences of lying when working in criminal justice . 
  • Is working undercover deception? 
  • Debate whether it is an American citizen’s moral duty to participate in jury duty. 
  • Should the police be allowed to access everyone’s data? 
  • Discuss the moral complications of “innocent until proven guilty.” 
  • Should convicted pedophiles be allowed to see their children? 
  • Can teaching ethics at schools prevent crime? 
  • Analyze ethical problems of the Stanford Prison Experiment . 
  • Should NATO have become involved in America’s Afghan war ? 
  • What are the ethical implications of shooter drills at school? 
  • Was Edward Snowden morally in the wrong? 
  • How should we deal with child soldiers ? 
  • Discuss if the prosecution of Julian Assange is justified. 
  • Examine the ethical problems of private prisons . 
  • What moral obligations should someone consider when granting prisoners the right to work? 
  • When is capital punishment justified? 
  • Is it ethical to incarcerate juvenile offenders ? 

⚖️ Ethical Dilemma Topics to Write About

An ethical issue becomes a dilemma when different moral standards clash with each other. In this situation, it is impossible to find a path to an ethically permissible solution that is unambiguous. The following sample topics are a solid base to start a discussion on morals.

  • Should parents watch over what their children do on the internet? 
  • Would you report an accident you caused if there are no witnesses? 
  • What should a doctor do if a patient refuses life-saving treatment for religious reasons? 
  • Should you turn down a client if their political views do not match yours? 
  • Would you promote something you are not convinced of to get money? 
  • Should you lie to land a job that gets you out of poverty? 

Ethical dilemmas.

  • Your partner cheated on you. Now, you get the chance to take your revenge with someone you really like. Would you do it? 
  • Should students use automated writing tools like free thesis generators , summarizers, and paraphrasers? 
  • Your teacher is continuously mocking your classmate. You are a teacher’s pet. Would you speak up? 
  • Your son likes to wear dresses. One day, he asks if he can wear one to school. Will you let him? 
  • You are very religious. Your daughter wants to get married to another woman and invites you to her wedding. What will you do? 
  • Prenatal testing showed that your unborn child has a disability. Would you terminate pregnancy? 
  • You are in a long-term relationship. Suddenly, your partner gets a job offer in another part of the world. What would you do? 
  • You have a terminal illness . This makes you a financial burden to your relatives. Are you obliged towards them to quit your treatment? 
  • You have a red and a blue candy bar. Blue is your favorite, but you also know that it’s your friend’s favorite. Will you give it to them? 
  • A friend asked you for a loan. Since then, they have not given you anything back. They are still not wholly stable financially. Will you ask them to return the money? 
  • Your grandma passed away and bequeathed her favorite mink coat to you. You are a vegan. What do you do? 
  • A few years ago, you borrowed a gun from a friend. Now, they ask for it back, but their mental state seems to be rapidly deteriorating. This makes you scared they are going to shoot someone, or themselves. What do you do? 
  • You find out that your friend cheats on their spouse. You are close friends with their family. Will you tell on them? 
  • For your birthday, your friend gave you a sweater they’ve made themselves. You think it’s ugly. Do you tell them? 
  • You are a vegan . Should you buy vegan products which are highly problematic to produce? 
  • You are in a restaurant. Your order arrives too late. The waitress looks stressed. Will you make her take it back? 
  • You went to the store and bought a new, expensive item. The clerk gives you too much change. Do you give it back? 
  • You are walking with a friend and find $50 on the floor. Would you share it with them? 
  • Your child firmly believes in Santa Claus. One Christmas , they start suspecting that he is not real. What do you do? 
  • Is having pets ethical?
  • Can eating meat be justified?
  • Should we defund the police?
  • Should atomic bombs be banned?
  • Can discrimination be justified?
  • Is it ethical to ask someone’s age?
  • Should children get paid for chores?
  • Is it unprofessional to send voice messages?
  • Should children be allowed to vote?
  • Should influencers promote products they don’t use?
  • Should there be any limitations to doctor and patient confidentiality?
  • Should physician-assisted suicide be allowed?
  • Can teenagers get plastic surgery?
  • What to do when you find out that your relative has committed an offense?
  • What to do when you see your friend cheating on the exam?
  • Should sportsmen be paid more than teachers?
  • Should gender quotas be used during parliamentary elections?
  • Do companies have the right to collect information about their customers?
  • Can politicians appeal to religious issues during electoral campaigns?
  • Should fake news be censored in a democratic society?

We hope that in this list you’ve found the ethics topic that fits you the best. Good luck with your assignment!

Further reading:

  • 430 Philosophy Topics & Questions for Your Essay
  • 226 Research Topics on Criminal Justice & Criminology
  • 512 Research Topics on HumSS (Humanities & Social Sciences)
  • 204 Research Topics on Technology & Computer Science
  • What’s the Difference Between Morality and Ethics?: Britannica
  • What is Ethics?: Santa Clara University
  • Ethics: Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy
  • Metaethics: Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
  • Ethical Issues: Idaho State University
  • The Problem with AI Ethics: The Verge
  • Sports Ethics: Santa Clara University
  • What Is Bioethics?: Michigan State University
  • Ethics in Criminal Justice: Campbellsville University
  • Kant’s Formula of Universal Law: Harvard University
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376 Ethical Topics & Questions for Research Papers, Essays, Debates, & More

376 Ethical Topics & Questions for Research Papers, Essays, Debates, & More

Are there white lies with good intentions? Should euthanasia be permitted by law?

Both of these questions are ethical dilemmas – situations with two or more conflicting moral choices. Ethical dilemmas involve conflicting values and moral obligations. To ease the understanding of such predicaments, you can approach ethics (or moral philosophy). This branch of philosophy suggests the concepts of good and bad and provides theories to determine moral behavior.

In this article, we will explore different ethical topics and theories applicable to them. You will also find practical tips on how to write an essay on the most complex ethical issue. Let’s start!

  • 💥 TOP 12 Ethical Topics

📚 Normative Ethical Theories

  • 🤔 How to Answer Ethical Dilemmas

📝 Ethical Research Paper Topics

🧑🏾‍⚕️ ethical topics in healthcare.

  • 🌳 Environmental Ethical Issues

🖥️ Ethical Topics in Technology

⚡ ethical argument topics.

  • 🏺 Philosophy Essay Topics
  • 👩🏽‍🎓 Ethical Questions for Students

💬 Ethical Persuasive Speech Topics

🔦 ethical topics for presentation, ❓ ethical questions: faq, 🔗 references, 💥 top-12 ethical topics.

Here are some ethical topics that are popular for discussion in 2023:

  • Privacy concerns in social media advertisement.
  • Ethics of using artificial intelligence for marketing.
  • Digital surveillance and personal data protection.
  • Genetic engineering and ethical boundaries.
  • Ethical issues in educational technology.
  • Ethical challenges in healthcare data sharing.
  • Environmental ethics and sustainable development.
  • Ethical dilemmas of autonomous vehicles.
  • Bioethics in medical research and experimentation.
  • Ethical considerations in cybersecurity practices.
  • Ethical concerns in the use of big data.
  • Ethical implications of blockchain technology.

Normative ethical theories provide principles or guidelines for determining what is morally right or wrong. There are three broad (and competing) groups of ethical theories:

  • Consequentialism believes that the consequences of an action determine its moral value.
  • Deontology emphasizes adherence to moral rules and duties.
  • Virtue ethics focuses on developing moral character and embodying virtuous traits.

🤔 How to Answer Ethical Dilemma Questions

Sometimes it seems that ethical dilemmas don’t have the right answers . But you can choose the best one for yourself if you establish a certain decision-making algorithm.

To answer ethical dilemma questions, follow these steps:

Below, you will see lists of ethical topics from different areas of human knowledge and activities. There are plenty of topics to write about, no matter what your focus of study is.

Ethical Topics in Business

  • Corporate social responsibility in multinational companies.
  • The role of business ethics in insurance companies .
  • Ethical challenges in international supply chain management.
  • Transparency and accountability in financial reporting.
  • The role of business ethics in recruiting new employees using social media .
  • Workplace diversity and inclusion ethics in the USA.
  • Data privacy and security of employees in the workplace.
  • Global warming and business ethics .
  • Bribery and corruption in business transactions.
  • Whistleblowing and ethical reporting mechanisms.
  • Business ethics: Indian tea plantation workers .
  • Ethical considerations in advertising and marketing practices.
  • Fairtrade and ethical sourcing in global business.
  • Business ethics of concealing facts in reports .
  • Ethical leadership and decision-making in organizations.

Ethical Fashion Topics

  • Sustainability and eco-friendly practices in fashion.
  • Maintaining ethical standards in fashion .
  • Ethical implications of fast fashion and overconsumption.
  • Fair wages and labor rights in garment manufacturing.
  • Supply chain as a crucial component of sustainability in the fashion industry .
  • Animal cruelty-free and ethical sourcing of materials.
  • Transparency in supply chains and traceability of products.
  • Child labor in the fashion industry .
  • Body image and ethical representation in fashion advertising.
  • Recycling and upcycling in the fashion industry.
  • Overseas sweatshops in the fashion industry .
  • Cultural appropriation and respect for traditional designs.
  • Ethical considerations in fashion collaborations and partnerships.
  • Fashion Nova’s labor standards and transparency .
  • Fashion industry’s impact on local communities and artisans.

Ethical Issues in Criminal Justice Topics

  • Use of force and police brutality in the United States.
  • The code of ethics in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice .
  • Racial profiling and discriminatory practices in law enforcement.
  • Ethical considerations in undercover operations and informant handling.
  • Criminal justice: philosophies of corrections .
  • Integrity and honesty in witness testimony and evidence presentation.
  • Ethical challenges in the use of informants and confidential sources.
  • Professional ethics in criminal justice: Singleton vs. Norris .
  • Juvenile justice and ethical treatment of young offenders.
  • Capital punishment and ethical implications of the death penalty.
  • Criminal justice ethics: police corruption & drug sales .
  • Ethical issues in plea bargaining and prosecutorial discretion.
  • Ethical responsibilities of defense attorneys and client representation.
  • The criminal justice service violations and ethical issues .
  • Rehabilitation and ethical approaches to offender reintegration.

Media Ethics Paper Topics

  • Accuracy and fact-checking in media reporting.
  • Communication and social media ethics in the United Arab Emirates .
  • Journalism ethics in the era of misinformation.
  • Privacy concerns and ethical boundaries in media coverage.
  • Media ethics: censorship of online material and behavior .
  • Ethical considerations in photojournalism and image manipulation.
  • Sensationalism and ethical dilemmas in news reporting.
  • Media ethics: principle of privacy .
  • Conflict of interest and transparency in media ownership.
  • Diversity and representation in media storytelling and content.
  • Mass media ethics in news coverage .
  • Ethical challenges in social media and online journalism.
  • Intellectual property and plagiarism in media production.
  • Media censorship in the US .
  • The role of media in promoting ethical discourse.

Ethics in healthcare ensures that medical professionals prioritize patient well-being, maintain confidentiality, and make decisions rooted in moral principles. Choose one of the topics below for a paper on ethics in medicine:

  • Informed consent and patient autonomy in healthcare decisions.
  • Healthcare ethics: physician-assisted death .
  • Ethical considerations in end-of-life care and medical assistance.
  • Allocation of scarce resources and equitable healthcare distribution.
  • Abortion: an ethical dilemma .
  • Confidentiality and privacy of patient health information.
  • Ethical challenges in clinical research and human experimentation.
  • Medical ethics: implications of a confidentiality breach .
  • Ethics of physician-assisted suicide in healthcare.
  • Organ transplantation and ethical considerations in donor selection.
  • Obamacare and healthcare reform: ethical challenges .
  • Ethical dilemmas in reproductive medicine and assisted reproduction .
  • Cultural competence and ethical practices in healthcare delivery.
  • Medical ethics: pet euthanasia .
  • Ethical considerations in the use of emerging technologies in healthcare.

Ethical Topics in Nursing

  • Ethical considerations of artificial intelligence in nursing care.
  • Nursing ethics in patient advocacy .
  • Understanding and managing confidentiality breaches in nursing.
  • Ethical implications of assisted suicide for nursing practice.
  • Hospice care and nursing ethics provisions .
  • The moral dilemma of resource allocation in nursing.
  • Addressing the tension between cultural sensitivity and medical guidelines.
  • Euthanizing handicapped people: ethical and moral concerns .
  • Discussing the impact of health inequities on nursing ethics.
  • Ethical challenges in implementing telehealth in nursing.
  • Circumcision: ethical dilemma and a nurse’s role in it .
  • The moral landscape of mandatory vaccination for nurses.
  • The nursing profession’s role in addressing medical errors.
  • Ethic-of-care and ethic-of-justice in nursing leadership .
  • Exploring the nurse’s role in patient advocacy.

Biomedical Ethics Topics

  • Impact of gene editing on the future of healthcare.
  • Cryonics and its ethical side .
  • Ethical issues surrounding prenatal genetic testing.
  • The role of bioethics in emerging infectious diseases.
  • Embryo harvesting: ethical implications .
  • Ethical challenges in stem cell research .
  • Ethical considerations in human organ and tissue transplantation.
  • Bioethics: the use of marijuana for medical purposes .
  • Privacy and consent in the age of digital health data.
  • Addressing animal rights in the context of biomedical research.
  • Neuroimaging methods and arising ethical issues .
  • The ethics of personalized medicine and genetic discrimination.
  • Bioethics of advancements in neurotechnology and brain-computer interfaces.
  • Cloning research ethics: ethical dispute and issues .
  • The ethics of extending human lifespan through biotechnology.
  • Surgery complications and bioethical decision-making .

🌳 Environmental Ethical Issues Topics

Environmental ethics guide individuals and organizations to act responsibly towards the planet. Such actions promote sustainable practices and biodiversity conservation and mitigate the adverse impacts of human activities on ecosystems. Here is a list of ethical environmental topics for research:

  • Ethical responsibility for climate change for future generations.
  • Sea dumping: legal and ethical issues .
  • The role of environmental justice in urban planning.
  • Ethical considerations in the use and disposal of plastics.
  • The issue of global climate change from an ethical perspective .
  • Implications of luxury fashion on the environment and ethics.
  • The ethical responsibility of corporations in pollution.
  • Land use and environmental ethics .
  • The intersection of environmental ethics and indigenous rights.
  • The ethical debate surrounding geoengineering as a climate solution.
  • Environmental ethics: genetically modified organisms .
  • The moral duty towards the preservation of biodiversity.
  • Ethical considerations in the transition to renewable energy sources.
  • Environmental ethics: intrinsic value of objects .
  • The role of capitalism in environmental degradation.
  • Commercial fishing: environmental ethics case study .

Animal Ethics Topics

  • Ethical considerations in the treatment of companion animals.
  • Nestlé animal testing and business ethics .
  • The role of ethics in wildlife conservation efforts.
  • The ethics of animal testing in scientific research.
  • Ethical issues in animal research .
  • The environmental and ethical impact of factory farming.
  • The moral status of animals in ecological ethics.
  • Is animal testing ethical ?
  • Ethical approaches to invasive species management.
  • Addressing the ethical implications of zoos and animal captivity.
  • Ethics of using animals in medical research .
  • The ethical debate around hunting as a conservation strategy.
  • Ethics of the human-wildlife conflict resolution.
  • Scientific experiments on animals from ethical perspectives .
  • The moral side of animal cloning and bioengineering.

Food Ethics Topics

  • Ethical concerns of genetically modified foods’ impact on the environment.
  • Underweight products and deontological ethics .
  • Food waste and its ethical concerns.
  • The ethical debate on organic versus conventional farming.
  • Ethical eating in daily food practices .
  • The ethical and ecological effects of the meat industry.
  • Balancing the demand for seafood with sustainable practices.
  • Food safety issues in modern agriculture .
  • The ethics of the global food supply chain in developing countries.
  • Evaluation of the environmental ethics of palm oil production.
  • Food ads ban for childhood obesity prevention .
  • Food sovereignty and its significance in ecological ethics.
  • The ethical implications of mono-cropping and biodiversity loss.
  • Do marketers condition us to buy more junk food ?
  • Ethical dilemmas in the use of pesticides in agriculture.

In the technology sphere , ethics can influence the development and use of innovations. Ethical approach ensures privacy protection and promotes inclusive technology solutions. Below, you will find several topic lists regarding ethics in technology:

Computer Science Ethics Topics

  • The ethical concerns of artificial intelligence development.
  • Electronic surveillance as an unethical practice .
  • Outdoor privacy and surveillance in the digital age.
  • The ethics of data collection and use by tech companies.
  • Computer attacks and critical privacy threats .
  • Implications of autonomous vehicles on societal ethics and safety.
  • Ethical considerations in the development and use of deepfakes.
  • Obscenity and computer ethics .
  • Cybersecurity and ethical considerations in protecting user data.
  • The ethics of algorithmic bias in machine learning.
  • Computer ethics and privacy .
  • Ethical challenges in the application of facial recognition technology.
  • The responsibility of tech companies in spreading disinformation.
  • Computer ethics and data protection .
  • The ethics behind AI’s influence on job displacement and unemployment.

Aviation Ethics Topics

  • Ethical challenges of automation in aviation safety.
  • Aviation security and Al-Qaeda in Yemen .
  • The balance between profitability and safety in commercial aviation.
  • Ethical responsibilities of air traffic controllers.
  • Safety risks in the modern aviation industry .
  • Ethical considerations in the age of crewless aerial vehicles.
  • Ethics of environmental sustainability in the aviation industry.
  • Criminalization of aviation accidents .
  • Ethical challenges in aviation maintenance practices.
  • The moral dilemma of overbooking flights in the airline industry.
  • Aviation security is over-reliant on technology .
  • Ethical issues in the crisis management in aviation.
  • The role of whistleblowers in promoting aviation safety.
  • Sustainability in global aviation companies .
  • Ethical implications of advanced surveillance technologies in aviation security.

Engineering Ethics Research Paper Topics

  • Navigating the ethics of autonomous vehicles in society.
  • Engineering professionalism and ethics .
  • The role of ethics in sustainable engineering practices.
  • Ethical considerations in the age of artificial intelligence engineering.
  • Chernobyl disaster and engineering ethics .
  • Conflicts between innovation and safety in civil engineering projects.
  • The responsibility of engineers in managing climate change.
  • Engineering ethics: patent rights and legal issues .
  • Ethical challenges in the disclosure of engineering failures.
  • The implications of biotechnology in bioengineering ethics.
  • Machinery accident from an ethical standpoint .
  • The role of ethics in software engineering and data privacy.
  • Ethical considerations in the use of drones for engineering.
  • Ethical manufacturing and technology trends .
  • The ethical dilemmas in nuclear engineering.
  • Engineering competence and the code of ethics .
  • The ethics of using performance-enhancing drugs in sports.
  • Circumcision: medical, ethical, and human rights issues .
  • Should artificial intelligence be allowed to make life-or-death decisions?
  • Do celebrities have a moral responsibility to be role models?
  • Nightingale Pledge: medical ethics perspectives .
  • The ethical debate on privacy versus security in the digital age.
  • Are autonomous vehicles a boon or a bane for society?
  • Hurricane Katrina: government ethical dilemmas .
  • Should schools be allowed to use surveillance cameras on students?
  • Is it ethical to use animals for scientific experimentation?
  • Debate on circumcision: is it unethical and unlawful ?
  • Is the use of gene editing in babies ethically acceptable?
  • Is it ethically right to deny healthcare based on lifestyle choices?
  • Samsung and child labor: business ethics case .
  • The ethics of commercialization of organ transplants.
  • Are social platforms ethically responsible for the spread of fake news?
  • Obesity in Afro-Americans: ethics of intervention .
  • Should governments be allowed to censor the internet for national security?
  • Is it ethically right to use facial recognition technology in public?
  • Fetal abnormality and the ethical dilemma of abortion .
  • Is it ethical to prioritize economic growth over environmental sustainability?
  • The ethical implications of giving minorities benefits in college admissions.
  • Discrimination as an unethical business situation .
  • Should companies have the right to track their employees’ online activities?
  • The ethical debate on the death penalty as a justice form.
  • Ethical dilemmas in business: KFC Company’s case .
  • Is it ethically acceptable to use AI for predictive policing ?
  • Should parents have the right to choose their child’s genetic traits?
  • The relationship between economic rationality and ethical behaviour .
  • Is it ethically right to implement social credit systems in society?

🏺 Philosophy Essay Topics: Ethics

  • The role of cultural relativism in moral philosophy.
  • Aristotle’s views on ethics .
  • Ethics of the philosophy of existentialism.
  • Kantian ethics in contemporary society.
  • Kant’s deontological ethical theory .
  • The use of virtue ethics in modern moral dilemmas.
  • The influence of Stoicism on contemporary ethical thinking.
  • Cicero’s views on citizenship and ethics .
  • The ethical debate on utilitarianism versus deontology .
  • The philosophical implications of moral objectivism versus moral subjectivism.
  • Kant’s and Mill’s ethical philosophies .
  • Ethical implications of free will in the era of AI.
  • The philosophy of ethical egoism in capitalist societies.
  • Aristotle’s ethical theory about euthanasia .
  • The relevance of Nietzsche’s master-slave morality in modern ethics.
  • The role of empathy in moral philosophy and ethics.
  • Moral philosophical views: from Plato to Nussbaum .
  • Ethical questions raised by determinism and indeterminism.
  • The influence of Eastern philosophies on contemporary ethics.
  • Aristotle and virtue ethics .
  • The role of ethics in postmodern philosophy.
  • The ethics of responsibility in existentialist thought.
  • Theories of ethics: consequentialism and ethical relativism .
  • Moral obligations towards future generations in environmental ethics.
  • Individual ethics versus collective ethics.
  • Philosophical views of ethics and morality .
  • Aristotle’s concept of eudaimonia in modern society.
  • The ethical questions raised by the philosophy of solipsism.
  • Nonconsequential theory of ethics: case analysis .
  • The ethics of hedonism in contemporary societies.

👩🏽‍🎓 List of Ethical Questions for Students

We have ensured that you can find the perfect ethical topic depending on the type of assignment you received. You can find debate, discussion, speech, and presentation topics here.

Ethical Debate Topics

  • What are the ethical implications of capital punishment?
  • Fetus with deformities: what is its moral status ?
  • Should there be a moral limit to scientific discoveries?
  • Is it ethical to use animals in circus performances?
  • How do ethical theories view gay marriage ?
  • Is the commercialization of human organs ethical?
  • Is it ethical to use DNA from extinct species?
  • Should parents be responsible for children’s crimes ?
  • Should physicians be allowed to assist in patient suicide?
  • Is it ethical to clone humans for medical purposes?
  • Should parents spank their children ?
  • Is the use of child labor ethical?
  • Should religious beliefs influence public health policy?
  • Why should you be moral when it is not in your best interest to do so ?
  • Should gene editing in unborn children be allowed?
  • Is it ethical to implement robotic soldiers in warfare?
  • Should the United States abolish the death penalty ?
  • Is euthanasia in terminally ill patients ethical?
  • Should society implement universal basic income?
  • Should the sale of human organs be legalized ?
  • Is it ethical to design babies with specific traits?
  • Is the censorship of artistic expression ethical?
  • Should animals be used in medical research ?

Ethical Discussion Topics

  • The ethical implications of social media on personal privacy.
  • Should sex and violence be restricted on television ?
  • How should we address ethical issues in global outsourcing?
  • The ethical implications of data breaches and digital privacy.
  • Should same-sex couples be allowed to adopt children ?
  • The ethics of sustainable consumption of electronic devices.
  • The ethics of wealth disparity in capitalist societies.
  • Should we not abolish capital punishment ?
  • The role of ethics in sustainable development and climate change.
  • Ethical considerations of health disparities in society.
  • Should smoking be illegal ?
  • Ethical considerations of pandemic response and vaccine distribution.
  • The role of ethics in animal rights and testing.
  • Should parents avoid vaccinating their children ?
  • Ethical considerations in the rise of the gig economy.
  • The ethical implications of facial recognition technology in public.
  • The right-to-die bill: why should all states pass it ?
  • Ethical dilemmas in genetic testing and personalized medicine.
  • The role of ethics in global migration and refugee crisis.
  • Should cigarette manufacturers be prohibited ?
  • The ethics of using AI in predictive policing.
  • The ethical considerations of child labor in global supply chains.
  • Should Kant be criticized for his absolutism ?
  • Why should animal testing for cosmetics be globally banned?
  • Corporate fraud as an ethical and leadership dilemma .
  • The need for ethical considerations in AI development.
  • Why the right to privacy should be prioritized in the digital age?
  • Stem cell research ethics, pros and cons, and benefits .
  • The importance of ethical farming practices for a sustainable future.
  • Why must corporations take responsibility for their carbon emissions?
  • Ethics of Obamacare and Trumpcare .
  • The necessity of ethical treatment of workers in global supply chains.
  • The importance of ethical considerations in medical research.
  • Should Americans adopt a vegan lifestyle ?
  • Why should technology companies be held accountable for data breaches?
  • The need for ethical standards in reporting and journalism.
  • Should we withhold life support ?
  • Why should businesses prioritize corporate social responsibility?
  • The importance of ethical considerations in education system reforms.
  • Should children be tried as adults for murder ?
  • Why should organ donation be encouraged as an ethical duty?
  • The necessity of transparency in governmental decision-making.
  • Ethical dilemma: should gene editing be performed on human embryos ?
  • Why should we consider the ethical implications of autonomous weapons?
  • The importance of sustainable consumption in the fight against climate change.
  • Animal testing for cosmetic or medical purposes should not be allowed .
  • Why should we prioritize ethics in the fashion industry?
  • The necessity for implementing ethical norms in genetic engineering.
  • Should human cloning be allowed ?
  • Why should we consider ethical implications of wealth disparity ?
  • The importance of ethically addressing refugee and migration crises.
  • How much should we do for our fellow men ?
  • The necessity of ethical governance in the use of facial recognition.
  • Ethical concerns in using virtual reality for psychological treatment.
  • Patient’s violence and the use of doctor force – medical ethics .
  • The role of ethical dilemmas in shaping public policy.
  • The ethical issues and carbon footprint of global supply chains.
  • British Petroleum: corruption involving ethics .
  • The ethical implications of data breaches in technology companies.
  • The ethical landscape of genetic engineering.
  • Domino’s Pizza: ethical dilemma case .
  • Ethical considerations in the use of personal data for political microtargeting.
  • Evaluating the ethical considerations in predictive policing.
  • The code of ethics of the American Nurses Association .
  • The role of ethics in responsible journalism and fake news.
  • The ethics of personalized pricing based on consumer data analysis.
  • Apple Corporation: ethical and social responsibility .
  • Ethical implications of intensive livestock farming on animal welfare.
  • Visualizing the environmental impact of single-use plastics in marine ecosystems.
  • Business ethics and dilemmas in the film Michael Clayton .
  • Ethical considerations in access to healthcare for marginalized populations.
  • Ethical dimensions of cultural appropriation.
  • International legal and ethical issues in business .
  • The role of ethics in organ donation and transplantation.
  • The ethical implications of economic disparity in capitalist societies.
  • Chevron Company: ethical analysis .
  • Ethical considerations in journalism and media ethics.
  • The role of ethics in sustainable development and consumption.
  • College sport: ethical issues .
  • Visualizing the environmental impact of fast fashion through data.
  • Ethical dilemmas in pharmaceutical industry marketing strategies.
  • Ethical dilemmas in Shakespeare’s Hamlet .
  • The ethical challenges in the education reform policies.

What Are Ethical Questions?

Ethical questions are inquiries that explore moral issues, challenging us to consider right and wrong, good and bad. They often deal with dilemmas where a decision about the appropriate behavior or action must be made. Ethical questions are relevant in many fields, such as business, healthcare, politics, science, and education.

What Are the Seven Ethical Principles?

The seven ethical principles are common guidelines in ethical decision-making across various fields:

  • Autonomy – respect for individuals’ right to decide for themselves.
  • Beneficence – obligation to promote well-being and good.
  • Non-maleficence – duty to cause no harm.
  • Justice – ensuring fairness and equitable distribution of resources.
  • Fidelity – maintaining loyalty and keeping promises.
  • Veracity – commitment to truthfulness and honesty.
  • Confidentiality – respecting the privacy of others.

What Are Some Ethical Topics?

Ethical topics cover a broad spectrum of issues across multiple domains. In healthcare, topics like euthanasia, patient confidentiality, and genetic engineering are common. In business, we discuss corporate social responsibility, whistleblowing, and fair trade. Environmental ethics covers animal rights, sustainability, and climate change. In technology, topics like data privacy, AI ethics, and cybersecurity are popular.

  • Ethics Awareness: UC San Diego  
  • Solving Ethical Dilemmas; Ethics in Law Enforcement  
  • A Framework for Ethical Decision Making – Markkula Center for Applied Ethics  
  • 5 Ethical Issues in Technology to Watch for in 2023 | CompTIA    
  • The Very Best 127 Philosophical Questions 2023  
  • Identifying Ethical Issues; Exploring Business  
  • How to Write About an Ethical Dilemma – Synonym  
  • The RIGHT Decision Method: An approach for solving ethical dilemmas | Institute on Community Integration Publications  
  • A Brief Guide to Writing the Philosophy Paper | Harvard College Writing Center  
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502 Ethics Essay Topics & Ideas

18 January 2024

last updated

Ethics essay topics traverse a wide range of issues deeply rooted in the moral fabric of society. They can include analysis of ethical dilemmas faced by individuals, corporations, or governments, such as healthcare decisions, corporate social responsibility, or public policy formation. Some themes can cover philosophical questions about the nature of good and evil, the boundaries of moral obligation, or the ethical implications of artificial intelligence. They can also explain contemporary ethical issues, like data privacy, environmental sustainability, or systemic discrimination. Other topics can encourage the exploration of ethical theories like deontology, consequentialism, or virtue ethics. Moreover, they can delve into the intersection of ethics with fields, like technology, medicine, business, or law. As a result, ethics essay topics require critical thinking, nuanced argumentation, and deep reflection on the ethical dimensions of human actions and decisions in an ever-complex world.

Best Ethics Essay Topics

  • Ethical Dimensions of Artificial Intelligence: Concerns and Potential Solutions
  • Is Animal Testing Morally Defensible?
  • Evaluating Censorship: Freedom of Expression vs. Harm Minimization
  • Autonomous Vehicles: Moral Implications and Responsibility Allocation
  • Genetic Engineering: Navigating the Labyrinth of Ethical Issues
  • Capital Punishment: An Ethical Examination
  • Ethics of Surveillance: Balancing Privacy and Security
  • Climate Change: Moral Obligations and Sustainable Development
  • Euthanasia: A Compassionate Choice or an Ethical Misstep?
  • Ethical Challenges in Global Business Practices
  • Privacy and Data Collection: Digital Age Dilemmas
  • Sustainable Consumerism: Ethical Implications and Responsibilities
  • Organ Transplantation Ethics: Debating Donor Consent
  • Deepfake Technology: Ethical Quandaries in Virtual Realities
  • Civil Disobedience: When Is It Ethically Justifiable?
  • Resource Allocation in Healthcare: An Ethical Dilemma
  • Ethics in Scientific Research: Boundaries and Breaches
  • Moral Implications of Cloning: Science and Society
  • Child Labor: Unveiling the Ethical Concerns
  • Genetic Data Privacy: An Emerging Ethical Frontier
  • War Ethics: Exploring Just War Theory
  • Privacy Invasion Through Technology: An Ethical Debate
  • Mandatory Vaccinations: Balancing Public Health and Individual Rights
  • Drone Warfare: Navigating Ethical Implications

Ethics Essay Topics & Ideas

Easy Ethics Essay Topics

  • Fair Trade: Ethical Aspects and Global Impact
  • Genetic Screening: Ethical Questions in Predictive Medicine
  • Autonomous Weapon Systems: The Ethics of Killer Robots
  • Influence of Media: Ethical Implications in Society
  • Designer Babies: The Morality of Genetic Modification
  • Wealth Inequality: Exploring Ethical Perspectives
  • Human Enhancement Technologies: Are They Ethically Sound?
  • Migration Policies: Ethical Considerations and Human Rights
  • Artificial Womb Technology: Navigating the Ethical Landscape
  • Intellectual Property Rights: An Ethical Investigation
  • Transhumanism: Ethical Implications and Future Prospects
  • Nanotechnology Applications: Unveiling Ethical Concerns
  • Child Soldiers: The Moral Dilemma in Armed Conflict
  • Population Control Policies: Ethics and Human Rights
  • Genetic Discrimination: An Emerging Ethical Crisis
  • Ghostwriting: Evaluating the Ethical Dimensions
  • Human Trafficking: Unpacking the Ethical Implications
  • Food Waste: Ethical Concerns and Solutions
  • Medical Tourism: Navigating the Ethical Implications
  • Cybersecurity Ethics: Protecting Data, Respecting Privacy
  • In Vitro Meat: Evaluating the Ethical Considerations
  • Ethics in Space Exploration: Colonization and Beyond
  • Animal Rights vs. Cultural Traditions: An Ethical Conflict

Interesting Ethics Essay Topics

  • Political Lobbying: Ethical Implications and Public Interests
  • Internet Censorship: Ethical Considerations and Freedom of Information
  • Ethics of Experiments on Humans: Reviewing Past and Present
  • Globalization’s Impact on Labor Ethics: An Investigation
  • Digital Identity Theft: Ethical Implications and Countermeasures
  • Zero-Waste Movement: Ethical Reflections and Practicalities
  • Assisted Suicide: A Compassionate Option or an Ethical Dilemma?
  • Cognitive Enhancements: Ethical Implications in Education and Workplace
  • Universal Basic Income: Ethical Considerations and Economic Consequences
  • Biofuels and Sustainability: An Ethical Examination
  • Ethics of Zoos: Animal Welfare vs. Conservation Education
  • Responsible AI: Establishing Ethical Guidelines for Artificial General Intelligence
  • Factory Farming: Unveiling Its Ethical and Environmental Impact
  • Mandatory Military Service: An Ethical Inquiry
  • Robotics in Healthcare: Ethical Issues and Human Interaction
  • The Right to Die: Unpacking the Ethics of Assisted Dying
  • The Ethics of Space Mining: Resource Exploitation Beyond Earth
  • Moral Questions in Quantum Computing: An Untouched Frontier
  • Teleportation Ethics: Navigating Possible Future Dilemmas
  • Digital Divide: Ethical Implications and Solutions
  • Human Cloning: A Moral and Ethical Minefield
  • Ethics in Advertising: Truth, Deception, and Manipulation

Ethics Essay Topics for High School

  • Ethical Implications of Genetic Engineering: Pros and Cons
  • Universal Human Rights: Their Origin and Impact
  • Autonomy and Respect in Medical Decisions: A Discussion
  • Euthanasia Debate: Ethical Dilemmas and Solutions
  • Environmental Ethics: Responsibility Toward Nature
  • Truthfulness in Journalism: Obligations and Challenges
  • War Ethics: Justification of Violence in Conflicts
  • Freedom of Speech: Where Should We Draw the Line?
  • Surveillance Society: Privacy and Public Security
  • Capital Punishment: An Ethical Evaluation
  • Plagiarism in Academia: Causes and Consequences
  • Moral Responsibility in Artificial Intelligence Development
  • Animal Rights: Ethical Considerations and Activism
  • Ethical Considerations in Organ Transplantation
  • Utilitarianism vs. Deontological Ethics: A Comparative Study
  • Social Inequality: The Ethical Duty of Reducing Poverty
  • Ethical Challenges in the Age of Biotechnology
  • Ethics of Whistleblowing in Corporate Culture
  • Business Ethics: The Role of Transparency in Trust Building
  • Internet Censorship: Balancing Freedom and Security
  • Ethics of Advertising: Consumer Manipulation or Information Provision?

Ethics Essay Topics for College Students

  • Balancing Personal Privacy and National Security: An Ethical Dilemma
  • Animal Rights: Evaluating Moral Obligations Towards Non-Human Beings
  • Digital Ethics: Exploring the Morality of Online Behavior
  • Corporate Social Responsibility: Unearthing the Ethical Boundaries in Business
  • Bioethics: Delving Into Genetic Engineering and Cloning Issues
  • Capital Punishment: Analyzing Its Ethical Implications
  • Ethical Dimensions in Modern Advertising: A Deceptive Practice?
  • Fair Trade and Globalization: The Ethical Debate
  • Dissecting the Ethics of Euthanasia: Who Decides Life and Death?
  • Understanding Ethics in Politics: Corrupt Practices and Moral Duties
  • Surveillance Technologies: The Big Brother and Ethical Issues
  • Impacts of Artificial Intelligence: Ethical Considerations for the Future
  • Wealth Distribution: An Ethical Perspective on Economic Inequality
  • Internet Censorship: The Question of Ethical Implications
  • Whistleblowing: An Analysis of its Ethical Considerations
  • Professional Ethics in Medicine: Analyzing Patient Rights and Doctor Duties
  • Unraveling the Ethics of Child Labor in Developing Countries
  • Climate Change: Evaluating the Ethical Responsibility of Individuals and Corporations
  • Genetically Modified Foods: Examining the Ethical Questions
  • Drug Legalization: Delving Into the Ethical Aspects

Ethical Argument Topics

  • Justification of Capital Punishment in Modern Societies
  • Animal Rights: Unseen Victims of Industrial Agriculture
  • Self-Driving Vehicles and the Question of Liability
  • Artificial Intelligence: Ensuring Ethical Treatment
  • Surveillance States: Invasion of Privacy vs. National Security
  • Online Censorship: Freedom of Speech or Prevention of Hate Speech
  • Mandatory Vaccinations: Individual Liberty vs. Public Health
  • Genetic Engineering: Prospects and Ethical Implications
  • Climate Change: Balancing Economic Growth and Environmental Protection
  • Wealth Distribution: Morality of Extreme Economic Inequality
  • Human Cloning: Scientific Progress or Ethical Nightmare
  • Euthanasia: Compassionate Care or Ending Life Prematurely
  • Influencers and Digital Ethics: Accountability on Social Media
  • Food Wastage: Addressing Ethical Concerns in Consumerism
  • Offshore Tax Havens: Legal Evasion or Immoral Avoidance
  • Internet Privacy: Data Collection and User Rights
  • Organ Trafficking: Addressing the Desperate Demand for Transplants
  • Biometric Data: Security Enhancement or Personal Privacy Breach
  • Pharmaceutical Industry: Ethical Issues in Drug Pricing
  • War on Terror: Justifying Collateral Damage
  • Designer Babies: Ethical Boundaries of Genetic Selection

Ethics Topics on Animals

  • Animal Testing: Necessary Evil or Inhumane Practice?
  • Breeding Programs: An Ethical Approach to Conservation?
  • Rights of Animals: Toward Legal Protection
  • Endangered Species Hunting: Conservation or Cruelty?
  • Ethical Considerations in the Genetic Engineering of Animals
  • Dilemmas in Captive Breeding for Endangered Species
  • Ethics in Animal Agriculture: A Global Perspective
  • Fur Industry: The Moral Argument Against Animal Cruelty
  • Lab Animals: Balancing Scientific Progress and Ethical Responsibility
  • Rethinking Zoos: Animal Rights vs. Educational Benefits
  • Ethical Breeding: Combatting Overpopulation of Domestic Pets
  • Companion Animals: Examining the Ethics of Ownership
  • The Morality of Keeping Exotic Pets
  • Wildlife Conservation: Ensuring Ethical Practices
  • Veganism: A Moral Obligation for Animal Rights?
  • Ethics of Hunting: Sport, Survival, or Savagery?
  • Animal Entertainment: Is It Ethically Justifiable?
  • Poultry Farming: Assessing Ethical Implications
  • Deforestation: Examining Its Impact on Animal Ethics
  • Animals in Research: Ethical Guidelines and Controversies

Bioethics Topics

  • Ethical Implications of Genetic Engineering
  • Assisted Reproduction: A Moral Examination
  • Medical Privacy: Balancing Transparency and Confidentiality
  • Implementing Ethics in Telemedicine Practices
  • Addressing Racial Disparities in Healthcare
  • AI’s Influence on Patient Autonomy
  • Vaccine Distribution: Prioritizing Fairness and Equality
  • End-of-Life Decisions: Assessing Moral Boundaries
  • Conducting Ethical Animal Testing in Biomedical Research
  • Consent in Pediatric Care: Navigating Parents’ and Children’s Rights
  • Ethical Dilemmas in Organ Donation and Transplantation
  • Analyzing Ethical Dimensions of Aging and Longevity
  • Genomic Data Sharing: Balancing Innovation and Privacy
  • Mental Health Treatment: Striking a Balance Between Autonomy and Safety
  • Ethical Challenges of Prenatal Genetic Testing
  • Confronting Ethical Issues in Biobanking
  • Navigating Bioethical Challenges in Biotechnology Patenting
  • Social Responsibility in Pharmaceutical Industry Practices
  • Compassionate Use of Experimental Drugs: Weighing Risks and Benefits
  • CRISPR Technology: The Ethics of Gene Editing
  • Dilemmas Surrounding Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR) Orders

Biomedical Ethics Essay Topics

  • Ethical Dilemmas in Genetic Engineering: Assessing Prospects and Pitfalls
  • Balancing Patient Confidentiality and Public Health in Pandemic Times
  • Evaluating the Ethical Concerns in End-of-Life Decision-Making
  • Moral Imperatives in Psychiatric Practice: The Question of Informed Consent
  • Probing the Ethical Boundaries of Animal Experimentation in Biomedical Research
  • Justice in Healthcare: Navigating Socioeconomic Disparities in Treatment Access
  • Human Cloning: Parsing the Moral and Ethical Implications
  • Neonatal Intensive Care Units and the Dilemma of Quality vs. Quantity of Life
  • Weighing the Ethics of Organ Transplants and Donor Organ Allocation
  • Scrutinizing the Intersection of Biotechnology and Bioethics: Genetically Modified Organisms
  • Cybernetics and Ethics: Discussing the Human-Machine Boundary in Medical Technology
  • Understanding the Ethical Dilemmas Surrounding Antimicrobial Resistance
  • Considerations on Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare: A New Ethical Frontier?
  • Abortion Policies and Ethics: Exploring the Rights of Mothers and Unborn Children
  • Data Privacy and Ethics in Biomedical Research: Striking the Balance
  • Evaluating the Ethics of Mandatory Vaccinations: Individual Liberty vs. Public Health
  • Probing the Bioethical Aspects of Fertility Treatments and Reproductive Technology
  • Resource Allocation in Healthcare: Dissecting the Ethics of Rationing
  • Ethical Analysis of Human Enhancement through Genetic Manipulation
  • Unveiling the Bioethical Challenges in Stem Cell Research

Business Ethics Essay Topics

  • Implementing Corporate Social Responsibility: A Ethical Business Paradigm Shift
  • Balancing Profit and Social Responsibility: The Moral Dilemma
  • Unveiling Greenwashing: Misrepresentation in Environmental Claims
  • Privacy Intrusion: Ethical Concerns in Digital Marketing
  • Whistleblowing: Courageous Act or Betrayal?
  • Child Labor in Global Supply Chains: Ethical Considerations
  • Navigating Insider Trading: An Ethical Quagmire in Business
  • Philanthropy or Publicity Stunt? Assessing Corporate Donations
  • Data Security: Addressing Ethical Issues in Business Informatics
  • Sweatshops and Modern Slavery: Unethical Practices in the Global Economy
  • Biased Algorithms: The Hidden Dilemma in AI Businesses
  • Pay Equality: The Ethics of Gender Wage Gap in Corporate Spheres
  • Ethical Dilemmas in Pharmaceutical Patents: Balancing Profit and Public Health
  • Climate Change: The Ethical Responsibility of Oil and Gas Companies
  • Animal Testing in Cosmetics: An Unsettling Ethical Challenge
  • Adverse Effects of Planned Obsolescence: Ethical Perspective
  • Ethics of Tax Avoidance: A Corporate Responsibility
  • Deceptive Advertising: Analyzing its Ethical Implications
  • Fair Trade: Ethical Considerations in Global Commerce
  • Inequality in the Workplace: Discrimination and Its Ethical Ramifications
  • Unpacking Corruption: The Ethical Degradation in Business Practices

Computer Ethics Essay Topics

  • Exploring Privacy Concerns in the Digital Age: A Critical Analysis
  • Impacts of Artificial Intelligence on Human Jobs: An Ethical Perspective
  • Ethical Implications of Cybersecurity Breaches: Unveiling the Dark Side of Technology
  • Technological Innovation and Its Role in Deepening the Digital Divide
  • The Conundrum of Social Media: Ethical Boundaries and Responsibilities
  • Surveillance Systems in Public Places: An Ethical Inquiry
  • Evaluating Ethical Practices in Software Development: Necessity or Luxury?
  • Autonomous Vehicles and Moral Decision Making: A Road to Controversy
  • Responsibility of Tech Giants: Exploring Ethical Implications
  • Unraveling Ethical Issues in Digital Piracy: The Unseen Consequences
  • Analyzing Ethical Concerns in Data Mining: Privacy vs. Profits
  • Ethics of Cloud Computing: Trust, Security, and Privacy Challenges
  • Smart Cities and Their Impact on Individual Privacy: An Ethical Investigation
  • Net Neutrality: Unpacking Its Ethical Significance in a Digital Society
  • Cyberbullying: Understanding Its Ethical Dimensions and Mitigation Strategies
  • The Intricacy of Bioinformatics: Ethical Implications and Challenges
  • Cryptocurrency and Blockchain: A Journey Through Ethical Quandaries
  • Ethical Dilemmas in Facial Recognition Technology: A Reality Check
  • Machine Learning Algorithms: A Deep Dive Into Bias and Ethical Dilemmas
  • Cyber War: Evaluating Its Ethical Implications on Nations and Citizens

Educational Ethics Topics

  • Fostering Academic Integrity: An Ethical Approach
  • Protecting Student Privacy in the Digital Age
  • Evaluation of Bias in Standardized Testing
  • Cyberbullying Prevention Strategies and Ethics
  • Inclusive Education: Ethical Considerations
  • Plagiarism: Implications and Ethical Solutions
  • Ethical Dilemmas in Educational Research
  • Diversification of Curriculum: An Ethical Imperative
  • Ethical Implications of School Surveillance
  • Impartiality in Grade Allocation: Ensuring Fairness
  • Responsible Use of AI in Education
  • Informed Consent in School Counseling
  • Cultivating Ethical Leadership in Education
  • Addressing Discrimination: The Role of Schools
  • Teacher’s Roles in Developing Moral Reasoning
  • Exploring Equity in Special Education Services
  • School Policies: Navigating Freedom of Speech
  • Ethics of Standardized vs. Adaptive Learning
  • Intellectual Property Rights in Educational Settings
  • Honoring Cultural Diversity: A Moral Obligation
  • Privilege in Education: Understanding Its Impact

Environmental Ethics Essay Topics

  • The Moral Responsibility of Individuals in Addressing Climate Change
  • Ethical Considerations in Wildlife Conservation Efforts
  • The Role of Environmental Justice in Sustainable Development
  • Ethical Transitions in Renewable Energy Deployment
  • The Moral Dilemma of Deforestation and Land Use
  • Sustainable Agriculture: Ethical Practices for Food Production
  • Environmental Ethics and the Preservation of Biodiversity
  • Ethics of Water Resource Management and Access
  • Ethical Implications of Pollution Mitigation and Waste Disposal
  • Moral Dimensions in Environmental Policy Making
  • Animal Rights and Welfare: Ethical Approaches to Environmental Conservation
  • Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Environmental Ethics
  • Environmental Ethics in the Era of Technological Advancements
  • Ethical Challenges of Urbanization and Building Sustainable Cities
  • Corporate Responsibility in Environmental Sustainability
  • Ethics of Consumption: Environmental Impact and Conscious Choices
  • Promoting Ethical Environmental Education and Awareness
  • Ethical Dimensions in Climate Adaptation Strategies
  • Geoengineering and Climate Intervention: Ethical Implications
  • Ethical Dilemmas in Ecotourism and Sustainable Travel

Ethics & Artificial Intelligence Topics

  • Ethical Considerations in Autonomous Vehicle Decision-Making
  • The Role of Ethics in Facial Recognition Technology Deployment
  • Ethical Implications of Deepfake Technology
  • Ensuring Fairness in Algorithmic Decision-Making
  • Ethical Dilemmas in Data Privacy and AI
  • The Ethics of AI-Powered Healthcare Diagnosis
  • Balancing Privacy and Security in AI Applications
  • Ethical Frameworks for AI in Criminal Justice Systems
  • Addressing Bias and Discrimination in AI Algorithms
  • Ethical Implications of AI in Social Media Manipulation
  • Ensuring Ethical Standards in AI Research and Development
  • Ethical Challenges in AI-Powered Customer Service
  • The Moral Responsibility of AI Developers
  • The Impact of AI on Employment and Ethical Considerations
  • Ethical Issues in AI-Powered Biometric Identification Systems
  • Ethics of AI in Environmental Conservation and Sustainability
  • Ensuring Transparency and Accountability in AI Governance
  • Ethical Challenges in AI-Based Predictive Policing
  • Moral Dilemmas of AI-Powered Humanoid Robots
  • Ethical Implications of AI in Journalism and News Reporting
  • The Role of Ethics in AI-Powered Decision Support Systems
  • Ethical Considerations in AI-Based Financial Advising
  • Balancing Autonomy and Control in AI Systems

Ethics of Emerging Technologies Topics

  • Ethical Considerations in Artificial Intelligence Development
  • Privacy Concerns Surrounding Big Data Analytics
  • Moral Questions Raised by Human Enhancement Technologies
  • Social Impacts of Autonomous Vehicles
  • Ethics and Genetic Engineering
  • The Role of Morality in Blockchain Technology
  • Ethical Challenges in Virtual Reality Applications
  • Sustainability Ethics in Renewable Energy Technologies
  • Ethical Dilemmas of Biometric Identification Systems
  • Cybersecurity Ethics and Data Breaches
  • Ethical Implications of 3D Printing
  • Ethics and Robotics Automation
  • Responsible Use of Augmented Reality
  • Ethical Issues in Brain-Computer Interfaces
  • Ethical Considerations in Nanotechnology
  • Ethics and the Use of Drones
  • The Role of Morality in Biomedical Implants
  • Ethical Challenges of Biometric Surveillance
  • Ethical Dimensions of Neural Networks
  • Social Media Algorithms and Ethical Implications

Ethics of War and Peace Topics

  • Moral Responsibility in Chemical Weapon Use
  • Cyber Warfare: Analyzing Ethical Ramifications
  • Interrogation Techniques: The Ethics of War Torture
  • Peacekeeping Operations: Ethical Challenges and Dilemmas
  • Ethics in War Propaganda
  • Justifying Collateral Damage: Ethical Dilemmas
  • Covert Operations: Ethical Considerations
  • War Crimes Tribunals: Ethical Dimensions
  • Environmental Impact of Warfare: Ethical Perspectives
  • Just War vs. Pacifism: Ethical Stances
  • Ethical Decision-Making in Times of War
  • Economic Sanctions: Ethical Implications in Conflict Resolution
  • Proportionality Principle in Warfare Ethics
  • Unmanned Combat Systems: Ethical Questions
  • Moral Imperative of Post-War Reconstruction
  • Ethical Dilemmas in Civil War Interventions
  • Nonviolent Resistance: Ethical Dimensions in Achieving Peace
  • Information Warfare: Ethics and Accountability
  • Just War Theory and Humanitarian Interventions: Ethical Analysis
  • Ethical Considerations in the Use of Child Soldiers
  • Coercive Interrogation Techniques: Moral Challenges in War

Ethics Essay Topics for Informative Papers

  • The Significance of Ethical Leadership in Business Organizations
  • Exploring the Ethical Dimensions of Artificial Intelligence Development
  • Ethical Implications of Genetic Modification in Human Enhancement
  • Analyzing the Ethics of Animal Experimentation in Scientific Research
  • Ethical Dilemmas in End-of-Life Care and Assisted Suicide
  • Ethical Considerations of Privacy in the Digital Era
  • Examining the Moral Responsibility of Corporations in Environmental Preservation
  • Ethical Issues in Human Cloning and Reproductive Procedures
  • Exploring the Ethical Implications of Autonomous Vehicles
  • The Role of Ethics in Healthcare Decision-Making
  • Ethical Challenges in the Era of Social Media
  • Ethics of Whistleblowing in Corporate and Government Settings
  • Examining the Ethical Implications of Big Data and Data Privacy
  • Ethical Issues in Organ Transplantation and Allocation
  • Ethics of Genetic Testing and Confidentiality
  • Moral Obligations of Healthcare Professionals During the Covid-19 Pandemic
  • Ethical Considerations in Human-Animal Relationships and Animal Rights
  • Ethics of Capital Punishment and the Death Penalty
  • Ethical Challenges in Clinical Trials and Research Studies
  • Moral Dimensions of Global Poverty and Wealth Disparity

Legal Ethics Essay Topics

  • Ethical Considerations in Lawyer-Client Confidentiality
  • Balancing Legal Advocacy and Professional Responsibility
  • The Role of Ethics in Judicial Decision-Making
  • Professional Standards in Legal Negotiations
  • Safeguarding Attorney-Client Privilege
  • Conflicts of Interest and Professional Ethics
  • The Intersection of Legal Ethics and Technology
  • Maintaining Zealous Advocacy Within Ethical Boundaries
  • Ethical Issues in Legal Advertising and Solicitation
  • Ensuring Competence and Continuing Legal Education
  • Upholding Loyalty to Clients and Ethical Duties
  • Ethical Billing Practices in the Legal Field
  • Ethical Dilemmas in Witness Preparation and Presentation
  • Ethical Considerations in Alternative Dispute Resolution
  • Professional Responsibility in Multijurisdictional Practice
  • Ethical Challenges in Pro Bono Legal Services
  • Ethics in Corporate Law Practice
  • Managing Pretrial and Trial Publicity Ethically
  • Conflicts of Interest in Law Firm Partnerships
  • Ethical Use of Electronic Communications and Confidentiality
  • Ethical Implications of Social Media for Lawyers

Media Ethics Essay Topics

  • Shaping Cultural Norms: Media’s Role and Responsibility
  • Advertising Ethics: Persuasion or Manipulation?
  • Journalism Ethics in Covering International Conflicts
  • Paparazzi Culture: Ethical Implications in Celebrity Journalism
  • Photojournalism Ethics: Publishing Disturbing Images
  • Citizen Journalism: Ethical Challenges and Responsibilities
  • Media Ownership: Impact on Diversity and Pluralism
  • Promoting Social Justice: Media’s Ethical Obligations
  • Ethical Implications of Influencer Marketing
  • Media Accountability: Importance of Ethical Guidelines
  • Digital Manipulation: Ethical Concerns in Media
  • Ethical Challenges in Reporting Crime and Trials
  • Balancing Freedom of Speech: Media’s Responsibility
  • Ethical Considerations in Documentary Storytelling
  • Media’s Influence on Political Discourse and Elections
  • Privacy Invasion: Ethical Dilemmas in Investigative Journalism
  • Native Advertising: Ethical Dimensions in Journalism
  • Media’s Role in Exposing and Combating Corruption
  • Ethical Challenges in Reporting Medical and Health Issues
  • Media Ethics in the Era of Deepfakes and AI
  • Censorship and Control: Moral Implications in News

Medical Ethics Topics

  • Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide: Ethical Considerations
  • Medical Errors and Patient Safety: Ethical Perspectives
  • Ethical Challenges in Global Health Initiatives
  • Informed Consent and Patient Autonomy in Medical Research
  • The Ethics of Human Enhancement Technologies
  • Ethical Issues Surrounding Animal Experimentation in Medicine
  • Allocation of Limited Medical Resources: Ethical Frameworks
  • Confidentiality and Privacy in Telemedicine and Electronic Health Records
  • Ethical Implications of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare
  • Professional Integrity and Conflicts of Interest in Medical Practice
  • Ethical Considerations in Clinical Trials and Drug Development
  • End-of-Life Decision-Making for Minors: Legal and Ethical Challenges
  • Ethical Issues in Emergency Medical Care and Triage
  • Organ Trafficking and Underground Organ Trade: Ethical Analysis
  • Cultural Competence and Ethical Care in a Diverse Society
  • Ethical Implications of Embryo Selection and Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis
  • Paternalism and Patient Autonomy: Balancing Healthcare Decision-Making
  • Ethical Concerns in Genetic Engineering and Gene Therapy
  • Medical Negligence and Malpractice: Ethical and Legal Perspectives
  • Ethical Challenges in Access to Healthcare: Equity and Justice

Nursing Ethics Essay Topics

  • Ethical Implications of Nurse-Patient Boundaries
  • Integrating Cultural Competence Into Nursing Ethics
  • Balancing Patient Advocacy and Confidentiality in Nursing
  • Challenges in Ethical Mental Health Nursing
  • Promoting Ethical Decision-Making in Nursing Leadership
  • Issues in Research Ethics: Protecting Human Subjects
  • Significance of Ethical Communication in Nursing Practice
  • Exploring Responsibilities in Emergency Nursing Ethics
  • Ethical Considerations in Pain Management for Nurses
  • Organ Transplantation Ethics in Nursing
  • Ethical Challenges in Nursing Informatics
  • Ensuring Equity and Justice in Nursing Care: Ethical Perspectives
  • Ethical Issues in Nursing Education and Training
  • Implications of Technology Use in Nursing Practice Ethics
  • Genetic Testing and Counseling Ethics in Nursing
  • Balancing Professional and Personal Ethics in Nursing
  • Challenges in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Ethics
  • Ethical Considerations in Palliative and Hospice Care Nursing
  • Roles of Decision-Making Models in Nursing Ethics
  • Addressing Ethical Issues in Transcultural Nursing
  • Implications of Nurse Staffing Ratios on Ethics

Political Ethics Essay Topics

  • The Significance of Monetary Influence on Political Campaigns: Analyzing Its Impact on Ethical Decision-Making
  • Ethical Considerations of Lobbying Practices Within the Political Sphere
  • Environmental Ethics and the Ethical Decision-Making Process in Politics: Achieving a Balance
  • Examining the Ethical Implications of Political Advertising: Informative Communication or Manipulation?
  • Ethical Dimensions of Political Spin: Striking a Balance Between Truth and Persuasion
  • Ethical Challenges Associated With Political Fundraising: Ensuring Transparency and Accountability
  • Moral Dilemmas in Political Decision Making: Navigating Complex Ethical Gray Areas
  • The Role of Ethical Journalism in Political Reporting: Objectivity vs. Bias
  • Analyzing the Ethical Considerations of Political Campaign Promises: Assessing Accountability and Feasibility
  • Whistleblowing in Politics: Ethical Obligations and Protection Measures
  • Politicians’ Moral Responsibility: Balancing Personal Convictions and Public Interest
  • Ethical Implications of Political Gerrymandering: Ensuring Fair Representation and Democratic Values
  • Political Ethics and the Ethical Use of Social Media: Balancing Freedom of Speech and Combating Hate Speech
  • The Importance of Ethical Leadership in Political Institutions: Setting a High Standard
  • Ethical Considerations in International Relations: Balancing National Interests and Global Cooperation
  • Examining the Ethical Use of Artificial Intelligence in Political Decision Making
  • Ethical Implications of Government Surveillance: Striking a Balance Between Security and Privacy
  • Political Discourse Ethics: Promoting Constructive Dialogue and Minimizing Toxicity
  • Ethical Challenges in Allocating Political Funds: Prioritizing the Public Good
  • The Role of Political Ethics in Public Health Policy: Balancing Individual Rights and Collective Well-Being

Social Work Ethics Topics

  • The Influence of Technology on Social Work Ethics
  • Fostering Self-Determination in Social Work Practice
  • Addressing Ethical Challenges in Child Protection Services
  • Integration of Cultural Competence in Social Work Ethics
  • Ethical Considerations in Mental Health Assessment and Intervention
  • Ensuring Confidentiality in the Practice of Social Work
  • Ethical Implications of Social Media Use in the Field of Social Work
  • Advocacy for Social Justice in Social Work Ethics
  • Establishing Boundaries in Ethical Social Work Practice
  • Ethical Dilemmas in Serving Vulnerable Populations
  • Striking a Balance between Autonomy and Paternalism in Social Work Ethics
  • Ethical Decision-Making in End-of-Life Care Settings
  • Power Dynamics and Ethics in Social Work Practice
  • Informed Consent in Ethical Social Work Practice
  • Ethical Considerations in Forensic Social Work
  • Ethical Challenges in International Social Work Practice
  • Upholding Ethical Research Practices in Social Work
  • The Impact of Legal and Ethical Standards on Social Work Practice
  • Values and Ethics in Supervision in Social Work
  • Ethical Considerations in Working With LGBTQ+ Individuals
  • Ethical Dilemmas in Substance Abuse Treatment and Recovery

Sports Ethics Essay Topics

  • Sportsmanship in Youth Athletics: Teaching Values or Pursuing Victory?
  • The Ethics of Performance-Enhancing Technologies in Athletics
  • Integrity in Sports: Balancing Competition and Fair Play
  • The Influence of Money and Corruption in Professional Athletics
  • Sports Governance: Ensuring Transparency and Accountability
  • Gender Equality in Athletics: Breaking Barriers and Challenging Stereotypes
  • Ethics of Violence in Contact Sports
  • Ethical Considerations in Sports Sponsorship and Advertising
  • The Role of Coaches in Shaping Ethical Behavior in Athletes
  • Sports and Social Justice: Addressing Discrimination and Inequality
  • Ethical Implications of Genetic Testing in Sports
  • Sports Gambling and its Moral Consequences
  • Ethics of Youth Sports: Parental Pressure and Burnout
  • Ethical Challenges in Sports Medicine and Performance Enhancement
  • Athletics and National Identity: Balancing Patriotism and Fair Play
  • The Role of Technology in Shaping Sports Ethics
  • Ethics of Transgender Participation in Athletics
  • Environmental Sustainability in Sports: Balancing Recreation and Conservation
  • Ethics of Team Ownership and Control
  • Athletics and Human Rights: Examining Exploitation and Labor Issues

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Why Data Breaches Spiked in 2023

  • Stuart Madnick

food ethics essay topics

And what companies can do to better secure users’ personal information.

In spite of recent efforts to beef up cybersecurity, data breaches — in which hackers steal personal data — continue to increase year-on-year: there was a 20% increase in data breaches from 2022 to 2023. There are three primary reasons behind this increased theft of personal data: (1) cloud misconfiguration, (2) new types of ransomware attacks, and (3) increased exploitation of vendor systems. Fortunately, there are ways to reduce the impact of each of these factors.

For many years, organizations have struggled to protect themselves from cyberattacks: companies, universities, and government agencies have expended enormous amounts of resources to secure themselves. But in spite of those efforts, data breaches — in which hackers steal personal data — continue to increase year-on-year: there was a 20% increase in data breaches from 2022 to 2023 . Some of the trends around this uptick are disturbing. For example, globally, there were twice the number of victims in 2023 compared to 2022, and in the Middle East, ransomware gang activity increased by 77% in that same timeframe.

  • Stuart Madnick  is the John Norris Maguire (1960) Professor of Information Technologies in the MIT Sloan School of Management, Professor of Engineering Systems in the MIT School of Engineering, and Director of Cybersecurity at MIT Sloan (CAMS): the Interdisciplinary Consortium for Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity. He has been active in the cybersecurity field since co-authoring the book Computer Security in 1979.

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EU AI Act: first regulation on artificial intelligence

The use of artificial intelligence in the EU will be regulated by the AI Act, the world’s first comprehensive AI law. Find out how it will protect you.

A man faces a computer generated figure with programming language in the background

As part of its digital strategy , the EU wants to regulate artificial intelligence (AI) to ensure better conditions for the development and use of this innovative technology. AI can create many benefits , such as better healthcare; safer and cleaner transport; more efficient manufacturing; and cheaper and more sustainable energy.

In April 2021, the European Commission proposed the first EU regulatory framework for AI. It says that AI systems that can be used in different applications are analysed and classified according to the risk they pose to users. The different risk levels will mean more or less regulation. Once approved, these will be the world’s first rules on AI.

Learn more about what artificial intelligence is and how it is used

What Parliament wants in AI legislation

Parliament’s priority is to make sure that AI systems used in the EU are safe, transparent, traceable, non-discriminatory and environmentally friendly. AI systems should be overseen by people, rather than by automation, to prevent harmful outcomes.

Parliament also wants to establish a technology-neutral, uniform definition for AI that could be applied to future AI systems.

Learn more about Parliament’s work on AI and its vision for AI’s future

AI Act: different rules for different risk levels

The new rules establish obligations for providers and users depending on the level of risk from artificial intelligence. While many AI systems pose minimal risk, they need to be assessed.

Unacceptable risk

Unacceptable risk AI systems are systems considered a threat to people and will be banned. They include:

  • Cognitive behavioural manipulation of people or specific vulnerable groups: for example voice-activated toys that encourage dangerous behaviour in children
  • Social scoring: classifying people based on behaviour, socio-economic status or personal characteristics
  • Biometric identification and categorisation of people
  • Real-time and remote biometric identification systems, such as facial recognition

Some exceptions may be allowed for law enforcement purposes. “Real-time” remote biometric identification systems will be allowed in a limited number of serious cases, while “post” remote biometric identification systems, where identification occurs after a significant delay, will be allowed to prosecute serious crimes and only after court approval.

AI systems that negatively affect safety or fundamental rights will be considered high risk and will be divided into two categories:

1) AI systems that are used in products falling under the EU’s product safety legislation . This includes toys, aviation, cars, medical devices and lifts.

2) AI systems falling into specific areas that will have to be registered in an EU database:

  • Management and operation of critical infrastructure
  • Education and vocational training
  • Employment, worker management and access to self-employment
  • Access to and enjoyment of essential private services and public services and benefits
  • Law enforcement
  • Migration, asylum and border control management
  • Assistance in legal interpretation and application of the law.

All high-risk AI systems will be assessed before being put on the market and also throughout their lifecycle.

General purpose and generative AI

Generative AI, like ChatGPT, would have to comply with transparency requirements:

  • Disclosing that the content was generated by AI
  • Designing the model to prevent it from generating illegal content
  • Publishing summaries of copyrighted data used for training

High-impact general-purpose AI models that might pose systemic risk, such as the more advanced AI model GPT-4, would have to undergo thorough evaluations and any serious incidents would have to be reported to the European Commission.

Limited risk

Limited risk AI systems should comply with minimal transparency requirements that would allow users to make informed decisions. After interacting with the applications, the user can then decide whether they want to continue using it. Users should be made aware when they are interacting with AI. This includes AI systems that generate or manipulate image, audio or video content, for example deepfakes.

On December 9 2023, Parliament reached a provisional agreement with the Council on the AI act . The agreed text will now have to be formally adopted by both Parliament and Council to become EU law. Before all MEPs have their say on the agreement, Parliament’s internal market and civil liberties committees will vote on it.

More on the EU’s digital measures

  • Cryptocurrency dangers and the benefits of EU legislation
  • Fighting cybercrime: new EU cybersecurity laws explained
  • Boosting data sharing in the EU: what are the benefits?
  • EU Digital Markets Act and Digital Services Act
  • Five ways the European Parliament wants to protect online gamers
  • Artificial Intelligence Act

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627 Ethics Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

📃 10 tips for writing essays on ethics, 🏆 best ethics topic ideas & essay examples, 👍 good essay topics on ethics, 🎓 simple & easy ethics essay titles, 📌 writing prompts for ethics, 🥇 most interesting ethics topics to write about, ✍️ ethics essay topics for college, ❓ ethics essay questions.

People make ethical choices every day, even when they do not realize it. Ethics is a debatable topic that covers many aspects of our daily life.

Ethics essays can help students to understand ethical dilemmas and problems better. Although writing an ethics essay can be challenging, we are always here to help!

Start with choosing an issue you want to discuss in the paper. Some good ethics essay topics and examples we can suggest are:

  • The aspects of utilitarianism as an ethical theory
  • Ethical dilemmas in the field of healthcare
  • Theories that explain human behavior
  • The significance of the personal code of ethics
  • Should euthanasia/abortion/personal use of drugs be legal?
  • Is morality related to society or culture?
  • Are there moral obligations all individuals should follow?

Remember that you can discuss other ethics essay questions and topics too. Choose one of the titles that seem most relevant to you. Now you are ready to start working on your paper. Here are ten tips that will help you to write an outstanding essay:

  • Research the issue you have selected thoroughly. You should gain an excellent understanding of its aspects, causes, and consequences. Try to rely on credible sources (such as peer-reviewed articles) only.
  • If you are not sure that the selected problem is relevant, find an ethics essay example online. This step can also help you to analyze your ethics essay structure and see whether you should make some changes.
  • Develop a good outline for your essay. Include an introductory section, several body paragraphs (at least three, if possible), and a summary or a conclusion. Note that an argumentative essay should include a refutation section too.
  • Introduce your thesis statement clearly. Your reader should understand the main argument of your essay.
  • Discuss all significant aspects related to ethics. Provide a definition of this term and examples of ethical dilemmas that may arise. It can make your paper more engaging to your audience.
  • Avoid overly complex sentences. Your essay should look professional but be easy-to-read. Remember that in general, sentences should not be longer than 35 words.
  • Discuss your perspectives on ethical issues you are presenting. State your opinion and include the recommendations you would provide. If you have relevant experiences or know people who have faced ethical dilemmas, discuss them in your paper.
  • Remember that the last paragraph of the essay is important. You need to present your thesis statement once again, along with the main arguments of your work. Discuss the findings of your study and make a conclusion.
  • Support your claims with evidence. Include in-text citations whenever you are referring to someone else’s work. At the same time, your paper should not include information from outside sources only. Add comments to each of the facts you are presenting.
  • Check the paper several times before sending it to your professor. You need to make sure that there are no grammatical mistakes. Pay attention to the sentence structure too. An important tip would be to put your essay away for several days and revise your ideas later with “fresh” eyes. Do not hesitate to ask your peers for help in revising your essay too.

Remember to check out essay samples on our website. They are free!

  • This Capstone Class: Practice of Ethical and Social Responsibility From my own experience in Hands on Greater Portland, after numerous readings and class discussions, now, it is easy for me to give a clear explanation to ethical and social responsibility, and compare it with […]
  • Concepts of Truth in Mathematics, the Arts and Ethics It is never easy to exactly determine what truth is due to many controversies that arise depending on the field of study.
  • Wall Street (1987): Ethics Analysis As anticipated, Gekko takes Bud in and offers him a big opportunity to make good money; however, Bud has to play the game according to rules.
  • The Ethical Dilemma – How to Make the Right Decision It is noteworthy that I acted in the right manner, as I could not tell a lie just to protect my friend.
  • Ethical Issues in Schools Within Jefferson County In most high schools in the Jefferson County, students get engaged in websites which sell the papers and later submit in the work to their teachers claiming that it is their own piece of work.
  • Business Code of Ethics Vs Employees Code of Ethics As much as business code of ethics and conduct is related to the employee code of ethics, there are some differences of the same.
  • Code of Conduct and Ethics in School Conformity with the Set Rules, Laws and Regulations Students and all members of staff are expected to abide by all laws and regulations which pertain to the endeavors they partake for and on behalf of […]
  • Ethical Dilemma in Accepting or Rejecting of Offers What will be the legal implications on the part of Henry in accepting a camera and a color printer for his son and to Clare in providing that assistance in view of their positions? According […]
  • Navigating Failure: How Bankruptcy Works? In the United States of America, bankruptcies are named according to the chapter of the bankruptcy law that they fall under.
  • Ethics in Public Administration: Case 2 – Paul’s Scenario Only combining the three traditional ethical approaches and acting in accordance to the ethics triangle, the mayor could achieve the greatest good for the greater number.
  • A Comprehensive Code of Ethics Plan Once the code of ethics is in place it is important to realize that the business proceeds by the governance of this document and any lapse or failure in its implementation may result in mix-ups […]
  • Unethical and Ethical Issues in Prisons (Corrections) This is one of the unethical practices that are evident in the prison systems. In this case, prison warders and authorities are usually noted to be actively involved in the business.
  • Choosing a Non-Anthropocentric Value Theory for Environmental Ethics Therefore, the application of utilitarian calculus to determine the degree of correctness or unfairness of acts that have certain implications on the environment is undoubtedly anthropocentric.
  • Moral and Ethical Issues in Science and Technology The aspects that pose moral and ethical issues in technology today need to be outlined and controlled with consideration of all the parties involved.
  • Ethical and Moral Issues in Business These codes consist of both business ethics that are generally expected in a workplace and specific personal moral values which would lead to good behavior by the employees.
  • Ethical theories Companies and business leaders around the world are constantly faced with a predicament of ensuring that their organizations and employees adhere to the scope of ethics and the nature of ethical obligations within their respective […]
  • An Ethical Situation Game Simulation I have received a report that shows that the company will suffer a $ 100 million loss and a likely tumble of share price in the NYSE if I choose to recall the product.
  • Consumer Protection with Regard to the Ethics Code The APA’s Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct is a set of rules and standard aimed at sustaining favorable relationships between a psychologist and a patient/client and introducing the basis for customer protection.
  • Legal & Ethical Issues in Global Business: Shell and Topshop In this case analysis, we shall analyze Shell Company in USA, as one of the largest oil producing and importing company at international level and this will be compared to Topshop Company in the United […]
  • Two Ethical Cases and Their Implications One of the fundamental principles of the code of ethics demands engineers to use their knowledge and skills in improving the welfare of human beings; therefore, it is quite ethical for Art Ainsworth to report […]
  • Introduction to Applied Professional Ethics In over the 11 years that I have been in the management team, I have witnessed great awareness in the company concerning ethical conduct and this has raised the expectations the employees to act according […]
  • Ethics and Professional Conduct in Business On the other hand, Jeff may perhaps cause the firm to stand a better chance of getting an investor due to the partially hidden details in the prospectus.
  • The Link Between Professionalism and Ethics In a sum up professionalism is the equality of being honest and faithful to the profession. Successful engineers are as a result of the moral behaviors and work ethics they endorse in their day to […]
  • The Importance of Ethics in Business in Light of the Recent Global Financial Crisis The lack of concern for the overall good of the society stemmed from the increase in equity-based compensation to top executives which resulted in the declaration that “the paramount duty of management and board is […]
  • Ethical Dilemma in Healthcare Administration Ethical concerns root for the distinction and separation of clinical ethics and business ethics in order to avoid complications of the responsibilities in the health care system.
  • Leadership Values and Ethics This is because the company will have the minimum number of employees it needs and be able to pay them adequately.
  • Conceptual Study on Ethics and Morals In this case, the rights or wrongs are all relative, and a group of people might think that something is right; this should not be assumed that it is right.
  • Feminist Ethics Concept This point of view therefore leaves the patriarchal society as the only repairable institution and this is where radical feminist concurs with the fact that feminist ethics are centered on changing the social perceptions of […]
  • Ethical issues in heath care In such a case, the practitioner should not be tempted to make decisions on behalf of the patient but should instead consult another party who is close to the patient.
  • The Ethical Code in Provider-Patient Relationship The author asserts further that it is the duty of health educators to seek the optimal standards of conduct and to motive the ethical behaviour of health providers including the nurses.
  • Ethics in Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) A big part of the public is of the opinion that regulations should be in place to ensure that the rights of the fetus or babies are not violated.
  • Leadership and Ethics Theory – an Economic Perspective on Leadership Among others, the leader has the attributes of: a far-sighted vision; charisma to convince, persuade and envision others to be leaders in their own domains; dedication; faithfulness to all involved at the same level and […]
  • Accounting Ethics The main source of revenue for a hospital is fees charged to patients when they receive various services from the hospital; the information of revenue is with the accountants thus they should offer the information […]
  • Luxury Fashion Market and Ethics This thus leads to the question, is being ethical crucial for the survival of luxury fashion brands in the market? From the discussion above, ethics is a must have tool for luxury fashion brands to […]
  • The Belmont Report Ethical Principles and Guidelines Subjects have right to know the purpose of the research, the procedure that is involved, the inherent risks and benefits, and where therapy is involved, an alternative procedure that will be involved.
  • The Ethical Arguments For and Against the Life Saving Procedure This is the case scenario highlighted by Brudney in which the patient’s life partner notes that the patient would not wish to undergo a high risk life saving procedure because of the perceived heath risks.
  • Organizational Ethics: Encouraging Whistle-blowing within Organizations Furthermore, when internal whistle-blowing systems are in place, employees are encouraged to discuss illegal issues within the organization with the top-management, thus giving room for speedy resolution before they cause damage to both the organization […]
  • Ethical and Illegal Computer Hacking For the ethical hackers, they pursue hacking in order to identify the unexploited areas or determine weaknesses in systems in order to fix them.
  • Socio-Cultural, Economic and Ethical Factors that Influence Health Care Delivery He is insensitive to other cultures and this aspect greatly influences the decisions of the families he works with adversely affecting the health outcomes of their patients.
  • Is Crowd Sourcing Ethical? Twitter states that if one changes the language settings, one will know that Twitter is available in English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, and Spanish “Global voices” is a bloggers and translators community website spread […]
  • Business Ethics: Smoking Issue This is the identification of justice with an ideal of liberty and in this case whatever Charles Renford chooses to do should ensure that the liberty of all the parties to the dilemma is observed.
  • Taste, Work Ethic, and Compensation Expectations in the South Workers determination and hard work are the determinants of the amount they receive at the end of the day. This is because the more they work the more they get.
  • Open Source Systems: the Risks and Ethical Issues In this paper, the risks and ethical issues associated with open-source systems are outlined and additionally, a one-page audit plan for an open-source system for Global Airline Co.prepared in order to boost the company’s confidence […]
  • Business Ethics in Totalitarian Countries This is due to the allowances that one must make in trying to avoid the power structure of a totalitarian government.
  • Does Possession of Knowledge Carry an Ethical Responsibility? Ethical responsibility imposed on the power authorities is ignored and, therefore, people are unaware of the consequences of their reforms and actions.
  • Ethical and Legal Implications of the Data Management Problem To avoid the ethical and legal conflicts based on the choice of the effective usage of the necessary information to care the patient and the issues of confidentiality and privacy, it is necessary to provide […]
  • Ethical Philosophy The ethical approaches of the Utilitarian and the Kantian perspectives both examine ethics. This concern is not on the Utilitarianism schedule, which implies that from Kantianism perspective, Utilitarian morality is an amazing mixture of ethical […]
  • Ethical Aspects of the Financial Crisis Yet, they would agree that to some degree, the origins of the financial crisis can be traced to the immoral behavior of some individuals who attempted to maximize their own benefits of at the expense […]
  • Ethics Dilemma on the Horror of Andersonville The prisoners faced numerous setbacks and very little was done to improve their conditions. Wirz heard their case and so he allowed a trial to take place in the camp.
  • Policy Analysis and Ethics Kingdon simplified the art of public policy making into four stages: The setting of the agenda; the specification of alternatives from which a choice is to be made; an authoritative choice among those specified alternatives, […]
  • Ethical Frameworks in the Era of Globalization So far, business institutions failed to regard safety and security of environment and society and prioritize their duties and responsibilities in front of people. In the movie Corporation, the focus is first made on defining […]
  • Ethics Incorporation in Strategic Planning In this paper, the writer attempts to examine the role of ethics and social responsibility in developing a strategic plan in an organization.
  • Ethical Implications of Businesses in Third World Economies The sensation in people around developing nations is that this globalization phenomenon results in the advancement in the economy, but they forget the implications embedded in the transformation.
  • Restricting the Tobacco Advertisement: Ethical Perspective In addition, this industry is one of the biggest employers and supporter of the tobacco farmers while contributing to the firms GDP.
  • Groundhog Day: Ethical Analysis of the Movie The ideas, introduced in the film, deserve much attention; the story of self-improvement may help lots of people improve their own lives and the lives of the people around; the ethical aspects of “Groundhog Day” […]
  • Immanuel Kant Ethics Kant argues that, “a person is good or bad depending on the motivation of their actions and not on the goodness of the consequences of those actions”.
  • Nike Business Code of Ethics Given that employees of the organization are involved in the corporate business ethical programs of the organization, such programs therefore involves advising the employees of the organizations to be responsible on their behavior towards fellow […]
  • Ethical Analysis of American Apparel Sexual Harassment Lawsuits The CEO attributes the benefits the company offers her employee to the care and support that the employees give to the company to realize its growth potential.
  • Ethical Decision Making in Pharmaceuticals The systematic identification of the problem is the foundation for analysis of any department in accordance to the law. In relation to Buerki and Vottero, on identification of moral parameters, it is important to engage […]
  • Impact of the Internet on Information Systems Ethics Privacy of information involves ability to confine the confidential personal information in a specified domain area. The architecture of the internet is meant to enhance sharing of information and not to conceal or defend its […]
  • Business Ethics Effect on the Community and Organization However, business practices have been brought to the realization of the importance of business ethics and how it can influence the community and organization either positively or negatively.
  • Corporate Social and Ethical Responsibilities This calls upon business organizations not to run solely for profits and the interest of their stockholders, but in the interest of everyone that is a stakeholder in the outcome of their actions.
  • Ethics and the Human Condition Ethical relativism is the subjective theory that states that moral beliefs are relative to the norms of a person; therefore, judging whether an act is right or wrong totally relies on the moral beliefs of […]
  • Exploration of Ethics and the Environment The theme of death is evaluated in numerous literary and art works, and Don DeLillo’s White Noise is one of the brightest examples of how people are afraid of death, want to postpone it, and, […]
  • Ethical Issues and Guidelines in Psychology The research paper seeks to discuss the use of physical traces as one of the ethical considerations in any psychological research. The researcher should ensure the preservation of the physical and psychological dignity of the […]
  • Confucian Ethics and Legalists Authority in Shaping of Chinese History This paper discusses Confucian ethics and legalist’s authority in shaping Chinese history and explores: the analects of Confucius and how they would serve as primary moral and ethical code in shaping the intellectual period of […]
  • Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism by Weber On the other hand, he analyzes the evolution of the Christian beliefs and considers faithful calling to be the prototype for the division of labor forces in the contemporary capitalistic society.”One of the fundamental elements […]
  • Business Ethics: Morality Issues toward Customers However, with the aggressive managerial and expansionist practices utilized at the end of the 20th century, and a series of scandals in which the administration of large corporations was involved, the issues of preserving the […]
  • Financial Reporting Practices and Ethical Standards in Health Care Finance Financial accountability and reporting is important for meeting the ethical standards within the health care organizations and protecting the patients from the financial burden and unnecessary services.
  • Corporate Ethics in the “Business Through the Eyes of Faith” He concludes that prosperity and profitability in business should not be equated to God’s approval and favor, rather it should be perceived as due reward for diligence and discipline in the course of running the […]
  • The NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct A certified code that defines what is right for providers of childcare is a tool that helps to instill responsibility in respect to how children, adults, and the society relate to one another and how […]
  • Ethical Considerations in Successful Business The results of a survey conducted in July 2008 by one of the leading ethical beauty retailers, The Body Shop, reveal the high significance of the company’s ethical image on the customers’ purchasing choice.
  • Business Ethics and Social Responsibility Essay In this light, this paper discusses the importance of ethics and social responsibility and various practices and theories employed in different organizations. In future, ethics and social responsibility will have a new meaning in the […]
  • Globalization and Its Impact on the Health Care System: Ethical Dilemmas of Medical Treatment Globalization is one of the processes that have a considerable impact on the development of the health care system and the way of how people are able to get treatment; the spread of an ethical […]
  • Louis Pojman’s Ethical Theory Furthermore, due to the different laws and cultures in our world, it would be seemingly impossible to uphold such a rule According to Pojman, “the idea of rewarding the good and punishing the bad is […]
  • Ethical and Christian Worldview Analysis of ”Willow Creek Community Church” To his surprise, the number grew so big that he had to change the venue of his meetings as well as the name of his audience. The missionary passion of Bill and his staff leads […]
  • Professional Values and Ethics There are quite a number of sources of professional values and ethics. Professional integrity is also another source of professional values and ethics.
  • Online Persona: Ethical Implications For the purposes of this essay, let us accept that a fabricated online persona remains ethically unsound, as we consider the social harm this causes, namely, the perpetuation of crippling social stigmas, and the erosion […]
  • Constitution Ethical Issues However, the United States constitution has put checks and balances in place in order to ensure that in maintaining law and order, the police officers respect the rights of the populace.
  • Nestlé Ethics and Social Responsibility The research in the sphere of Nestle’s ethics shows that the company has lots of low-rated ethical criteria to be accused of.
  • Business Ethics in South African Enterprises Second, the project was expected to create more jobs both to the white and the black population in the country. Second, contrary to the expectation of the company’s management the project did not succeed in […]
  • Which is Basic in Ethics: Happiness or Obligation Logically, the basic element in any pursuit is the end itself; consequently, the task here is to determine the element that stands out as the end as opposed to means to something else.
  • Managing Business Ethics: Straight Talk about How to Do It Right The foundation of socialism argues that business Company’s should be established for the purposes of serving common good of both the consumers and the employees.
  • Facebook Ethics Aspects As much as business ethics applies to all issues that are supposed to be undertaken by businesses, they are expected to guide the general conduct of individuals and organizations at a given period of time.
  • Ethical and Legal Issues in Nursing Setting In contrast to the patient’s interest, the physician, the nurse and the parents acted in beneficence. The action of beneficence is an ethical aspect that requires nurses to act in the interest of the patient.
  • Aristotle’s Ethical Theory The weakness of philosophical theories is that they are mere intellectual theories void actions or activities, which require habitual practice as a process of achieving moral virtues.
  • Teleological and Deontological Theories of Ethics Definition Lastly, there is the resulting conflict between the husband and the wife’s family members due to the termination of the pregnancy.
  • Ethical Implication of Human Genetics Research Because of the aforementioned reason, the appraisal of genetic research is increasingly getting more attention of the human research ethic committee. The ethical concern in human genetic research is similar to those which arise from […]
  • Medical Ethics: Arguments for Medical Dishonesty Therefore, without the protection of ethics, the medical care organization will be an analogy of a financial jungle, within which the fast and the superior will enjoy enormous financial gain over the sick and the […]
  • EBay Company’s Business Ethics Allowing the sale of restricted items online is an insult to lawmakers and the laws they make to protect the society against the harmful effects brought out by continuous use of the restricted items.
  • Ethical Culture Audit: Corporate Policies and Norms The organizational culture is very important for the company as it enables the management to ensure that all employees are aligned to the culture and make decisions in accordance with the corporate policies concerning the […]
  • Ethics in the Healthcare Delivery In addition, the argument on what should or not be the community and policy reactions to women who are less confident of childbearing arise.
  • Qualifications, Attributes, Ethics, and Responsibilities of Air Traffic Controllers Air traffic controllers need to have a long concentration span because they have to make decisions in the midst of numerous distractions such as noise and poor visibility.
  • Death Penalty and Ethics The arguments for the capital punishment as explained earlier are also extremely weak and the practice of death penalty is morally wrong.
  • Ethics Analysis of the New York Times Company The NYTC, through the New York Times, has continued on the founding father’s mission of serving the interests of the citizens while observing corporate ethical behaviors.
  • Moral and Ethical Issues and the Foundation of Special Education The difference in perspectives depends entirely on the available policies about people with special needs together with the level of awareness in the society. Disability philosophies have contributed a great deal in the way the […]
  • Business Ethics-Labeling Genetically Modified Food The consumer protection agency has done little to enhance the labeling given that they believe that these products that are genetically modified are just similar to the natural ones hence no need to be labeled […]
  • Wal-Mart’s Ethical Issues This paper forms an analysis of the ethical issues raised against or for Wal-Mart Corporation and the potential outcomes of some of the negative or conflicting views about the firm.
  • Mercy Killing: An Ethical Argument with Regards to the Future He adds that mercy killing is demoralizing as it acts as a reminder of how the sick and those with disabilities are unwelcomed by the society.
  • Leadership & Ethics in the Workplace The leaders in a workplace are a reflection of the group members in that particular workplace and the group members in one way or the other bear the burden of what the leader decides to […]
  • The new advancements in Cloning and the Ethical debate surrounding it Cellular cloning involves use of somatic cells to produce a cell line identical to the original cell, and this can be used to produce therapies like those of molecular cloning.
  • Data Storage: Ethical and Legal Issues in Terms of Management Illegal access of information over the internet can arguably be said to be the most disturbing and biggest challenge that has come along with the internet.
  • Value and Ethics in Organizations Values generally refer to the things or traits that are important to someone “In an organization, values refer to what an organization stands for and what should be the basis for the behavior of its […]
  • Environmental and Animal Ethics The writer argues that to some point, the environment should be treated in the same way human beings are treated meaning that companies polluting the environment with emissions should understand that the environment feels the […]
  • The Significance of Ethic – Views of Kant, Mill and Nietzsche According to him, the motive behind an action is the one that makes the action to be deemed as right or wrong.
  • Theory between Economics and Ethics. Adam Smith ‘Problem’ Based on the illustration that Smith provides, “if the consumers want more gloves as opposed to shoes, it implies that the demand of the gloves will increase as that of shoes fall, leading to fall […]
  • Corporate Ethical Challenges Corporate reputation is an asset to a company as it helps improve the value of the company in the financial marketplace.
  • Ethics Program: Hyatt Hotels Corporation Code of Ethics The code addresses the issue of compliance with the applicable laws by means of honesty and integrity in relation to moral standards.
  • Business Ethics: Reflective Essay Various decision-making procedures right from the time of recruitment of employees, defining the goals and objectives of the organization, designing the appropriate organizational structure, developing the organizational strategies, and integration of the strategies in the […]
  • Ethical Problems of the Disabled Veterans in the Workplace Affirmative action refer to measures that have been put in place to create balance of some sort and at the same time address historical and documented acts of injustices among the category of persons for […]
  • Importance of Ethics in Communication Essay The issue that arises is whether employees make the right decision that would benefit the company or they make the wrong choices that call for the downfall of the company.
  • Ethic of War as the Way Avoid the Conflicts Over the centuries the laws of war have experienced significant developments which include the following: To consider the plea of combatants during surrender and the treatment of prisoners captured during war in a humane manner […]
  • International Business Issues and Ethics Management decisions in the two companies in response to the issue of labor relations vary because of the prevailing political, social, legal and ethical factors in Britain and America.
  • Normative Ethics and the Right to Privacy Recent advances in technologies have prompted a new consideration of e-mail, use of e-mail, and its relation to ethics. From the deontological perspective, the court’s decision to give Ellsworth’s parents legal access to his e-mail […]
  • Decision Making Challenges Facing Ethical Dilemma In the same way the performance of line managers is judged by the quality of the decisions they make. From the management of Herbs garden products, the following steps could be taken: State the problem […]
  • Ethical failures in business The best Martha can do is to file an official memo to the boss and the owner, trying to explain the risks and possible outcomes of ethical misbehaviors in organizations. On the other hand, she […]
  • Introduction to the Sources of the New Ethics that is Required by the Internet Which is why, as our new digital world continues to evolve, we must, as a people, insure that a set of professional ethics and standards are out into place to guide the present and future […]
  • The Implementation of Corporate Social Responsibility and Ethical Behavior of Qantas Airways The fact that the Group has been featuring in the index is a clear indication of its sustainability levels. The group has been acknowledged and recognized in the area of sustainability performance and disclosure.
  • The United Technologies Corporation Ethics The strategy and program also provides for the expectations and principle approach that applies to the shareowner value of the company.
  • Riordan Manufacturing – Role of Ethics and Social Responsibility One of the ways through which this can be attained is by integrating ethics and social responsibility in its strategic planning.
  • Values and Ethical Communication Behaviours The possible causes of action include: sending the three applicants to the president and wait to see what happens; rethinking the selection criteria and trying to have a male applicant in the top three; and […]
  • Business Ethics: Behaving Ethically The term ethics is used to refer to a set of acceptable principles of right or wrong that guides and regulates the conduct of an individual, the members of a professional body, or the general […]
  • Normative Ethics: Human Resource Management The precedents set in this landmark case in the arena of sexual discrimination is that it gave the law courts in the United States the basis of analyzing sex same harassment, cases of sexual discrimination […]
  • Cooper’s Ethical Decision-Making Model The first step in this approach is ascertaining and giving a description to the facts of a situation including the main participants, their perceptions, the issues and the threats pose by the situation.
  • What is an ethical choice? Once all these steps are followed and one is still uncertain if they will be making an ethical choice, then one would rather opt for the alternative that will turn out the majority good for […]
  • Counselor and Ethical Boundaries Dual relationships, on the other hand, refer to a situation where, in addition to profession relationship, a significant emotional relationship exists between the client and the counselor.
  • The Moral and Ethical Reasons Why Marijuana should be legal It is my humble opinion that the billions of dollars being spent on the war against marijuana should be diverted to more useful projects like feeding the less fortunate in the society.
  • Ethical Issues in the Workplace: Gilbane Gold One, the city depends on the plants in Gilbane for the supply of the test results. However, the problem with the restrictions is that they are flawed in the sense that toxic levels are measured […]
  • Counselor Ethics and Responsibilities Counseling is a profession that inculcates the approach to the needs of the clients, presenting issues and the character of the individual.
  • Economic and Political Dimensions of Environmental Ethics Environmental ethics may be defined as the study of ethics of the day to day interactions of human beings with and their impacts on the systems of nature.
  • The Concept of Ethics in Relation to Salesmanship In his criticism of Holley’s theory, the author identifies that where time is a constraint, the sales persons would not be in a position to consider the moral obligation to the customer and would therefore […]
  • Ethical Problems for New Graduates For instance, the videos recommend that new graduates should always understand the background of the ethical dilemma in the organization and review if appropriate actions are normally taken in such situations or not.
  • Ethical Case: Facebook Gossip or Cyberbullying? The best option to Paige is to apologize publicly and withdraw her comments. The final stage is to act and reflect the outcome of the choice made.
  • Environmental Ethics: Land Ethic and the Platform of Deep Ecology Attfield defines environmental ethics as the study of ethics of the day to day interactions of human beings with their environment and their impacts on the systems of nature.
  • Business Ethics: Is It Profitable? Business ethics is a set of professional ethics that tries to inspect ethical problem or the principles of ethics that can emerge in a business organization. Implementation of ethics in a business organization increases costs […]
  • Ethical Issues in the Finance Department of an Industry As a division manager of the athletic team, the finance department will give information on the previous sales and provide a detailed report on how the products in the sale were fairing in any of […]
  • International Ethics: Statement of the Problem Thus it is important to understand the nature off goodness in light of humanity in order to enhance the human capacity to achieve the stated objectives of life. This is the aim of bringing to […]
  • Nicomachean Ethics by Aristotle However, the fact that there are many actions that people engage in, Aristotle argues that their ends are countless. Aristotle concludes that happiness is the key principle that causes people to practice virtues such as […]
  • Is Ethical Behavior and Leadership a Challenge to Law Enforcement Officers? With regard to the above-presented considerations, that ethical behavior and leader constitutes a serious challenge to law enforcement officers unless specific ethical standards of conduct, ethical principles, and correlation between law and morale limits are […]
  • Description of Ethical Issues on Collection of Henrietta Cells Without Her Knowledge Skloot’s work in a big way looks into the emotional and ethical issues relating to the collection of Lacks’ cells without her approval.
  • Ethics Issue – Organ Transplants What must be understood is that these decisions are made in light of limited supply and as such must factor in the potential each individual possesses.
  • Ethics Program: New Consultancy Firm Code of Ethics The task, in this paper, includes developing an appropriate standards and procedures that will guide the firm and its employees, an appropriate ethics training program, a system of monitoring, auditing, reporting misconduct and finally a […]
  • Ethics Competency: in BNC Company Another evidence to show that the company was corrupt was the fact that the vice president, did not take any action when Colombo reported that a wholesaler wanted to bribe her so that she would […]
  • Professional Work Ethics: Effective Nursing Practice Therefore, it should be concluded that the modern problem in the hospitalization of the patients is the lack of motivation and desire of the nurses to provide top quality assistance for patient.
  • The Investigation of Ethical Issues in The Tell-Tale Heart and The Pond The secondary problem is related to an ethical dilemma with regards to the responsibility of the husband to provide and care for the family.
  • Animal Cruelty as an Ethical and Moral Problem It is due to the fact that this paper stresses that actions related to the needless and non-progressive act of animal cruelty should be considered a felony with the appropriate amount of incarceration put into […]
  • Ethical Dilemma: the Husband’s Right to Confidential Treatment The ethical principle requiring the respect of the autonomy of the individual can mean that the autonomy of the husband is distinct from that of the wife from.
  • Ethical Dilemma: Heroin Prescription One major ethical issue is whether a heroin addict is capable of assenting to prescription of heroin. Nothing is said about whether the subjects targeted for heroin prescription are capable of competent voluntary consent to […]
  • The Ethics of Belief: Based on Evidence or Inquiry In his essay The Ethics of Belief, William Clifford argued that every form of belief had to be based on some evidence or inquiry.
  • Ethical Issues for Defense Attorneys and Persecutors The only goal of the defense attorney is to defend the accused, and they have to do so even if they know that the accused is guilty.
  • Teaching and Ethics: When It Is the Teacher Who Is Taking the Test That is why, the ethical principles are supposed to be followed especially well in the field of teaching, given the fact that a teacher is responsible not only for the knowledge that the students are […]
  • Legal and Ethical Issues in International Business This is an unfavorable situation for foreign companies considering that these are credited with introducing revolutionary technologies, products, and ideas to the host countries, leading to improvement in the quality of life in such countries.
  • Legal and Ethical Issues in Business In particular, the Commission accused Bristol-Myers of a series of anticompetitive activities leading to a decline in generic competition and to a promotion of Bristol’s new drug products.
  • Legal and Ethical Issues in Business: Drug Use and Privacy The issue of drug testing among the employees should define in contextual terms and, therefore, it does not often relate to the privacy issues.
  • Importance of Hiring Ethics in Hospitality and Tourism The hospitality industry grows the ethics of honesty, integrity, trustworthiness, and loyalty, fairness, concern, and respect for others, personal, and company excellence, good and effective leadership, accountability to the customers, employees, and the company, good […]
  • Ethics and Land Use Behavior In the contrary, the rich tends to be the owners of large tracks of land, whereas the poor are usually squatters in most societies.
  • Ethical Standards in Scientific Research Ethical principles in research work identifies with maintaining high levels of trust and honesty in the reporting and presentation of the data.
  • Can Capitalism Be Ethical? In my opinion, one of the most serious ethical objections to capitalism is its unjustness that leads to the exploitation of workers by robbing them of the products of their labor.
  • Ethical Problems in Animal Experimentation The banning of companies from testing on animals will force the manufacturers to use conventional methods to test their drugs and products.
  • Ethics: Moral Issues in Business In the book, Solomon generates a captivating view on business and ethics. As earlier discussed, it is ethical for a business to contribute towards the development in a community.
  • Ethical and Unethical Leadership in Healthcare
  • Analyzing the Differences between Utilitarianism and Libertarianism: Ethical Issues and Moral Judgments
  • “Eat Drink Man Woman”: Confucian Ethics and Traditional Chinese Family Life
  • Concept of the Ethical Judgments in the Field of Arts and Natural Science
  • Ethical Principles in the Movie The Firm
  • Ethics in Computer Technology: Cybercrimes
  • Ethics in Computer Hacking
  • Business Society & Ethics Analysis
  • Ethical Dilemma: Counselors Engaging in Relations with Clients
  • Is Ethics Objective?
  • The Ethics of Abortion
  • Ethic Problem of the Withdrawal of Medical Equipment in Medicine
  • Business Ethics Is an Oxymoron: Essay Example
  • News Media and Journalists Ethical Code
  • Sainsbury’s and Nokia: Political, Ethical, Economic, and Legal Issues
  • The Legal and Ethical Environment of Business
  • Companies Ethics: Benzene and Toxic-Tobacco Law Brochure
  • Ethics is not Based on Religion
  • Natural Science, Ethics, and Critical Thinking
  • Ethics in Health Administration: Four Principles of Autonomy
  • Ethics in Health Administration
  • Information Systems: Ethical, Legal, and Security Issues
  • “The Ethics of Belief” by William Clifford
  • Ethics Training Program Plan
  • Use of Animals in Research Testing: Ethical Justifications Involved
  • The ethical and legal guiding principle
  • Knowledge Carries an Ethical Responsibility
  • Business Ethics: When the Work-Life Scales Are Unequal.
  • Ethical Dilemma: “A weak Dollar Versus A strong Yuan”
  • The Ethical Dilemma: Siemens
  • Ethical Dilemma- The Fate of Opel
  • Sport Drugs and Its Ethic and Morality Impacts
  • Ethical and Moral Views of Immanuel Kant and John Stuart Mill
  • Ethical Problem – Tony Nicklinson’s Legal Battle
  • Ethical analysis of illegal downloading and the effects of it
  • Ethical Appeals: “Harold and Maude”
  • Enron Company Business Ethics Case
  • Ethical Issues Surrounding Intellectual Property Rights
  • Ethical Debate on our Information Privacy
  • Moral and Ethical Concerns of Euthanasia in Healthcare
  • Ethics and Abortion
  • Ethical Analysis of the Movie “Liar, Liar”
  • Ethics in Philosophy: Discussing Theories, Evaluating Key Concepts. In Search for the Truth
  • Society’s Views About Business Ethics
  • Ethics and Social Responsibilities in Business
  • The Coca-Cola Company Struggles with Ethical Crisis
  • Is It Ethical to Abort Based On Genetic Disability?
  • Utilitarian Ethics in Philosophy
  • Ethics Corporate Governance and Social Responsibility
  • Ethical Problems of the Animal Abuse
  • Ethical Dilemmas Facing Teachers
  • Hegel’s Ideas on Action, Morality, Ethics and Freedom
  • Value and Ethics of an Organization
  • The Ethics of the Union Carbide Disaster in India
  • Ethical Behavior in the Information Technology Domain
  • Corporate Governance and Its Relation to Business Ethics in Case of BHP Billiton and Australian Corporate Governance
  • Corporate Governance and Business Ethics
  • Kitsch – under the Title of Taste and Ethics
  • Ethics and Moral Issues in Business
  • Business Ethics History
  • The Positive Aspects of Ethical and Social Responsibility on Business
  • The Ethics of Organ Donation in Modern World
  • Drug Abuse as an Ethical Issue
  • Organisational Behaviour – Business Ethics
  • Ethics and Human Resource Management
  • Importance of Ethics in Business
  • The Connections between the MEAA Code of Ethics and Three Philosophical Traditions
  • Animal Testing: Ethical Dilemmas in Business
  • Redwood Associates Company Business Ethics Case
  • Corporate Governance: Ethical Climate
  • Ethical Issues Facing Social Researchers
  • Ethics and the Business Executive
  • Ethics of Cloning
  • HR Ethics: Employees’ Privacy and Social Media
  • Importance of Business Ethics
  • Ethics of Wasta and the Use of Social Capital
  • Justice Theory: Business Ethics, Utilitarianism, Rights, Caring, and Virtue
  • Re-Examining Business Ethics
  • Ethical Dimensions Connected to Food Processing
  • Codes of Ethics and Corporate Culture
  • Healthy Methods of Ethical Relaxation
  • CornCo Plant: Contaminated Products and Corporate Ethics
  • Ethical Dilemma at the CornCo Company
  • The Boeing Ethical Policy
  • Ethical Issues and Considerations in Cosmetic Surgery
  • The Ethics of Early Marriages in the American Society
  • Siemens Company’s Ethical Issues
  • Ethics Aspects in Project Prevention
  • Legal-Ethical Issues Affecting Patient Rights for the Elderly
  • Munich: The Ethical Aspects of Revenge
  • The Need for Ethical Leadership and Governance in Democracy
  • The views of ethical behavior to the decision making processes of the Tom’s of Maine Company
  • Ethical Problems in Clinical Trials
  • The Ethics Problem in Business
  • Moral Considerations: Determining the Organization’s Success
  • Role of Ethics in Business and Engineering
  • Ethics and Morality in Society and Business
  • Ethics Problems in Animal Experimentation
  • Ethical Events: Good Samaritan Conduct and Acts of vigilantism
  • Ethics-Related Global Workplace Issues
  • XYZ Company Business Ethics Management
  • Ethics as a Theme in Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
  • Workplace Health & Safety: The Ethical Dilemmas
  • Ethics Awareness Inventory Analysis
  • Introduction on Professional Values and Ethics
  • Relationship Between Ethics and Religion Essay
  • How have ethic and age distribution changed in the British Columbia region of the last 50 years and why?
  • Solving the Ethical Dilemmas
  • Towards Understanding Baudrillard’s Seduction Ethics and how It Assists to Understand Modern Media
  • Breast Milk Substitute’s Ethical Issue
  • Ethical and Social Obligations
  • Toy Industry Safety Ethics
  • Ethical Decision Making and Sustainable Development
  • Media Ethics: Towards Employing Utilitarianism and Kantian Theory in Examining Practical Ethical Issues
  • Ethics in Design
  • Whether or Not to Uphold Business Ethics
  • Corporate Social Responsibility at the Tesco PLC
  • An Ethics Program for a Small Business Venture
  • FedEx: Implementing Business Ethics
  • Psychological Egoism vs Ethical Egoism
  • Business Ethics Strengths and Weaknesses
  • Ethical Issues Associated With Psychological Testing
  • Ethical Leadership Models and Theories
  • Dealing With Ethical Issues in the Workplace
  • Ethical considerations of Executive compensation
  • How Ethics May Have Played a Role in Enron’s Way of Doing Business
  • Kant’s Ethics: Objection to Lying
  • Social responsibility and ethical analysis of Darden
  • Ethical Issues in Network Regulation
  • Ethical and Social responsibility issues in IHRM
  • Ethical Practice in Business Environment
  • Social Trends, Social Responsibility and Ethics
  • Ethical Issues in the Health Sector
  • Business Ethics
  • Cultural and Ethical Contingencies of Leadership
  • Child Labour: Ethical Aspects of Employment
  • Ethical Issues and Future Trends
  • Key Ethical Issues in Retailing and Distribution
  • Facing Ethical Issues as a Software Engineer
  • Ethical Issues in the Non-Profit Organizations
  • Business Ethics in Multinational Corporations
  • Ethical Issues with Performance Enhancing Drugs in Professional Sports
  • Comparison of Codes of Ethics: The American Counseling Association and the American Psychological Association
  • Corporate Social Responsibility at the Kajima Corp.
  • Business Ethics: Concepts and Cases
  • M2A2 Ethics: Wal-Mart and Adidas
  • Ethical Dilemma of Psychologist
  • Profile in Ethical Leadership
  • Communication Systems, Ethical Issues, and Organizational Processes in the Hospital
  • Ethics and Professional Standards of Fitness Gym
  • Ethics and Professional Responsibility
  • Ethical Manager
  • ASPA Code of Ethics
  • Good ethical business decisions
  • Business Ethics Defined
  • Ethics by Linda Pasten
  • Business Ethics in the Employee Management
  • Toyota Ethical Issues and Social Responsibility
  • Sony-Ericsson’s Marketing Ethics
  • Aristotle’s Ethics and Metaphysics
  • Basing Leadership on Ethical Principles
  • Vodafone Company and Ethical Principles
  • Music Downloads and the Ethics of Piracy
  • Fat Ethics – Obesity and Society
  • Tecck Industries: Business Climate and Ethics
  • The Ethical Issues Brought about by the Astronomical Growth of the Media Sector
  • The Ethical Issues Brought about by the Technology and How the Country has Dealt with It
  • Business Ethics: Stealing from Employer
  • Ethics of Bernie Madoff
  • Creating an Ethical Organization
  • Ethical Approach to the Business Organization
  • Max Weber – The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism
  • Public Relations and Ethical Decisions
  • Issue of Nepotism in Business Ethics
  • Ethical Benefits of Corporate Social Responsibilities in a Workplace
  • British Airways Ethical System
  • Various Ethical Theories Analysis
  • Ethical and Moral Theory in Christian Worldview
  • Concepts of Ethical Studies
  • Business Objectives, Ethics and Reputation
  • The Use of Torture as an Ethical Collection Method of Intelligence
  • Resolving Ethical Issues in the Workplace: Utilitarianism and Kantian Ethics
  • Ethical Issues in the Victorian Desalination Plant
  • Social Entrepreneurship Ethical Issues
  • Examining “The Golden Rule” and Virtue Ethics
  • Roles of Ethics in Psychological Research
  • Ethical Problem of Smoking
  • Consequentialistic and Virtue Ethics
  • Ethically Conducted Business’ Benefit
  • Key Issues Concerning Computer Security, Ethics, and Privacy
  • Debates about the Ethical Basis of Human Resource Management
  • Ethical Issues at a Workplace
  • Health Care Ethics: Promoting and Maintaining Professionalism
  • Ethical Considerations in Decision-Making
  • Factors and Influences of Integrity and Ethical Behavior by Employees
  • W. K. Clifford, ‘The Ethics of Belief’
  • How Ethical Considerations Affect the Cost of Developing a New Prescription Drug
  • Ethics in Financial Management
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  1. Food ethics: the moral maze

    Food ethics then is a topic that ought to be of interest to all food industry professionals, especially to food company CEOs, directors and senior managers and not just university academics. The purpose of this two-part article is to introduce the concept of food ethics and to illustrate ethical analysis in relation to selected food ethics issues.

  2. Food ethics: moral marketing

    Food ethics is a form of moral inquiry that can serve as a tool by which to guide food business leaders' day-to-day decision making; but how might this play out in the industry itself? Consumers as the means to the end of profitability? Take for example ultra-processed foods - the HFSS (high fat, sugar, salt) products mentioned in part one.

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    Updated: Oct 26th, 2023 34 min Food essays are an excellent way to demonstrate your awareness of current nutrition and health issues. Obesity is a significant concern that is present in many people throughout the world and can lead to a variety of deadly conditions.

  4. Food Ethics

    Food Ethics Essay Exclusively available on IvyPanda Table of Contents Introduction Food ethics has gained relevance in the recent past, especially following the increase in food-related health problems. We have a responsibility to various stakeholders, other than ourselves, to be healthy.

  5. Our Moral Duty to Eat Meat

    The basic claim, to put it crudely at first, is that eating meat is morally good primarily because it benefits animals. Of course, the practice does not benefit a particular animal that we eat at the time that we eat it. Nevertheless, the existence of that animal and animals of that kind depends on human beings eating animals of its kind and ...

  6. How Philosophers Approach Food Ethics

    Paul B. Thompson has been a leading scholar in food ethics for over 30 years. He was present at the founding of three professional societies for food ethics and has served in an advisory capacity for the U.S. National Research Council, the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, Genome Canada, and Wageningen University and Research Institute in the Netherlands, among others.

  7. The Ethics of Being a Foodie

    Criticisms and attitudes based on the (sometimes unexpressed) thought that food is a low or bestial pleasure are discussed and rejected. Thus, the chapter concludes that there need be no tension between ethics and foodieism. Keywords: foodie, high and low pleasures, the aesthetics of food, foodieism.

  8. Food Ethics

    Food Ethics. Paul Pojman (editor), 2011, Wadsworth/Cengage Learning (Boston, 978-1-111-77230-7, 199 pp.) In 1996 I edited and contributed chapters to a book with the same title, Food Ethics, published by Routledge. As I believe that was the first time the term had been used, I welcomed, with particular interest, the invitation to review this ...

  9. Aims and scope

    The topic of the research article should be relevant to the field of food ethics. The minimum length of the paper is approx. 5000 words, while the maximum length is approx. 15000 words. ... Typically, they contextualise issues in food ethics, or relate to current trends / ideas which have a bearing on food ethics. Some discussion papers may ...

  10. Ethical Eating in Daily Food Practices

    This paper, "Ethical Eating in Daily Food Practices", was written and voluntary submitted to our free essay database by a straight-A student. Please ensure you properly reference the paper if you're using it to write your assignment. Before publication, the StudyCorgi editorial team proofread and checked the paper to make sure it meets the ...

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    Essay Prompt: The food we eat contains nutrients necessary for nourishing and proper functioning of the body. It is important to understand well the food we put into our mouths because it determines our health and wellbeing. The food we eat contains nutrients such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, minerals, and vitamins…

  12. The Problems in Food Ethics in Modern World Research Paper

    Research has shown that healthy food is more expensive as compared to unhealthy food, as the multinational companies who engage in food production do not stick to the traditional way of doing things (Burgan 68). For example, a chicken only takes 6 weeks to mature compared to the early days where this would take some few months.

  13. The Evolution of Ethics in Food Choices Free Essay Example

    Download. Essay, Pages 7 (1572 words) Views. 945. The ethics surrounding food hasn't always been a major contributor in ones decision on what to eat. In the beginning, we would have to physically hunt or gather our meals in order to survive. The choice of what was for breakfast, lunch or dinner solely relied on what was accessible to us.

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    Here are some ethical topics that are popular for discussion in 2023: Privacy concerns in social media advertisement. Ethics of using artificial intelligence for marketing. Digital surveillance and personal data protection. Genetic engineering and ethical boundaries. Ethical issues in educational technology.

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    18 January 2024 last updated Ethics essay topics traverse a wide range of issues deeply rooted in the moral fabric of society. They can include analysis of ethical dilemmas faced by individuals, corporations, or governments, such as healthcare decisions, corporate social responsibility, or public policy formation.

  17. 75 Ethical Essay Topics for College Students

    The duty-based studies often relate to the so-called principle of the thing. Virtue ethics. If a person lives by following the virtue and possesses it too, it is considered as good. A right act is seen as the action of an individual that remains the same in any situation. Situation ethics.

  18. Food Ethics Essay Examples

    Food Ethics Essay Examples. 0 examples. 0 Tag's. Order now. Categories . Anthropology (3225) Anthropology of Cities (9) Anthropology of Religion (52) Applied Anthropology (56) Archaeology (152) ... Although it is not one of the most discussed topics in themedia today, there is still a great deal of controversy regarding the issueabout whether ...

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    As part of its digital strategy, the EU wants to regulate artificial intelligence (AI) to ensure better conditions for the development and use of this innovative technology. AI can create many benefits, such as better healthcare; safer and cleaner transport; more efficient manufacturing; and cheaper and more sustainable energy.. In April 2021, the European Commission proposed the first EU ...

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  23. 627 Ethics Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

    Start with choosing an issue you want to discuss in the paper. Some good ethics essay topics and examples we can suggest are: The aspects of utilitarianism as an ethical theory. Ethical dilemmas in the field of healthcare. Theories that explain human behavior. The significance of the personal code of ethics.

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