Am I Right?

How to live ethically

Arthur Dobrin D.S.W.

Pity, Reconsidered

Pity is a moral emotion and something important is lost when it is no longer part of our emotional makeup.

Let Your Child Go

If it is okay to be a soldier at 18, why can't you drink? Maybe we've gotten it wrong about when people become adults

You Aren't Who You Think You Are

One day Italians weren't white and Japanese and Chinese people were separate races. Today, things are reversed. What happened has nothing to do with genes but with society.

Conspiracies Are Everywhere—But They Aren't All True

Do you wonder how to respond to preposterous claims offered by many conspiracy theories? It isn't easy, but there are ways.

The Right to Your Body

The arguments around abortion and mandatory vaccinations are confused. Here is a clearer way to think about them.

Machines Aren't Moral, People Are

Robotic machines reflect the biases, prejudices and limitations of those who program them. No machine can be more moral than those who program it.

Living Only in the Moment Isn't Possible

Living life fully means knowing the moment for what it is—our past experiences and the anticipation of the future with all we've done, experienced, thought and hope for.

Lying to a Dying Patient

Avoiding the truth as a physician can seem like an easy way out of a difficult situation, but the harm done to society may be great.

Microplastics: What You Don't See That May Be Harmful

New evidence shows that microplastics are present in infants' bodies. How dangerous are these tiny, often invisible particles to human health?

Loneliness and Robo-pets

Will the widespread use of robo-pets be good for us or cause further alienation?

Lies, Damned Lies, and Statistics

Are you torn between accepting a friend's experience and statistical evidence? Don't be. One generates empathy, while the other provides guidance.

Don't Thank Me for My Service

Is thanking soldiers for their service diminishing the responsibility of others to do their part?

Patriotism Can Be a Source of Pride or a Home of Scoundrels

Is raising the flag a true sign of patriotism? Not necessarily.

Habits Are Often Useful

Habits can either work for you or against you. Here's why.

An Authentic Self Defined by Today's Standards

Nothing is more basic to humanity than to engage others. To fully engage another is to be both rational and emotional, therefore our authentic self is reliant upon mutual respect.

Would You Eat Termites?

How can you judge cultural differences without giving up on ethical judgments? One sociologist offers a way of thinking about it.

Are People Who Swear More Honest?

A new study claims they are, but the evidence is still unclear.

25 Questions to Begin a Conversation About Racism

Do you find it difficult to talk about race? These open-ended questions may be a way to deepen the conversation.

The Cancel Culture

What do you do with statues and buildings when you no longer approve of the people they honor? One solution is to not dedicate them to individuals in the first place.

True Mindfulness

Mindfulness practices can be useful but also misleading. We can’t take care of ourselves without paying attention to the needs of others.

Is Racism a Permanent State?

Is racism an indelible stain, or can a person change and be forgiven?

What Music Is Good For

Feeling anxious? Lullabies relax infants. They may do the same for you. Why not try it?

Real Heroes, Often Forgotten

Looking for real-life heroes? Here are three to be remembered.

What You Can Learn from a Rock Climber's Death

The greatest threat to our safety isn't where we think it is.

Police Reform Never Ends

Why does every generation have to demand police reform?

Blacks More Likely Targeted Than Whites Despite Traditional Police Training

Anti-bias training is insufficient to change the fact that blacks are more likely to be shot by cops than whites. Training that mimics real-life encounters is what's needed.

What a Zen Story Can Teach Us About the Pandemic

While science can provide us with the facts, wisdom can provide us with the path.

Fourth of July and the Cancel Culture

Fourth of July celebrations have been problematic for black Americans since the beginning of the nation. It's time to look at what we are really celebrating.

Do You Think the Protests Are Peaceful or Violent?

Whether you view protesters as peaceful or violent partly depends upon the frame that you bring to the situation.

What Value Do You Put on a Life?

COVD-19 has put a value on human life, but a person's value isn't the same as their worth.

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