The Good, the Bad, & the Ethics Case Library
By Roberta Israeloff
- Are private schools inherently unethical?
- What are the ethics of tipping?
- How should friends weigh the relative obligations of being truthful and honest?
- Should we watch true crime dramas?
If at first glance these questions seem easy to answer, think again. The more you consider them, the more complex they become. Ethics is less about discussing right and wrong than weighing competing claims and deciding which framework to use to weigh those claims. When you take an ethical dilemma to heart, instead of arriving at a clear answer you may find yourself stumbling over thornier questions.
The ethical questions listed above are only some of the cases that now appear in PLATO’s Ethics Case Library, launched in 2023 – https://www.plato-philosophy.org/ethics-initiatives/
In its inaugural year, we invited middle and high school students to submit cases they found intriguing. From the eighty submissions, fifteen were selected for publication in the PLATO Ethics Case Library.
We hope this virtual library will prove a rich resource for teachers, students, and parents. The cases can be discussed in classrooms, during Ethics Bowls, or around the dinner table. With your help, the shelves of our library will be stocked: each spring, we will issue a call for new cases. Authors of selected cases will receive a one-year PLATO membership and writing credit on the website. The case will also become part of the library archive.
Here are the basic guidelines:
- Each case should be between 300 and 500 words long
- The case should focus on an ethical issue — whether perennial or “ripped from the headlines” — relevant to middle and/or high school students.
- It should include 3 or 4 discussion questions to help structure deliberation.
- Cases can be written by individuals or a group of students (all contributors will be credited)
- Each student or team can submit up to two cases
Beyond watching the word count, the ins-and-outs of writing a good ethics case are tricky to describe. For example, the ethical issue at the core of the case should be complex and nuanced, requiring thoughtful reflection – but not so complex that extensive research is required. The cases should include enough background information so that readers can wrap their minds around the core ethical issue without feeling overwhelmed by detail. In other words, assume the audience is composed of readers who are reasonably well-informed.
Next, at least two points of view should be briefly outlined, but in such a way that the writer’s position does not leak through. Case writers need to be aware of their tone: it should remain neutral. As well, all positions need to be given equal space so that one isn’t longer or more persuasive than any others.
How to begin? Many cases start with an anecdote. Suggest that case writers think about a time they found themselves at a crossroads, unsure of how to act. Cases can be drawn from personal experience, the experiences of others, or from movies or other media. The cases can also be fictional – as long as they sound plausible. The next challenge is to think of three or four questions to inspire spirited discussion and deep reflection.
Case writing is an art. It often proves more difficult than it first appears as anyone who has written a good case knows. Encourage the teens you know to try their hand at it. Many case writers come away from the process with a new appreciation for ethical deliberation and philosophical writing. As a bonus, they often begin to see the world through an ethical lens.
The new call for submissions is now available here, and is open to students from any country. Submissions are due August 31, 2024. Spread the word and help our library grow.
