Am I Right?

How to live ethically

Arthur Dobrin D.S.W.

Students Offer New Hope

New hope found in students' responses to an ethical dilemma.

The Death of Empathy

So much bad news makes wears on our capacity for empathy.

An Unhappiness Manual

Since being happy is the goal of rational people, why do so many of us do things that are guaranteed to make us miserable?

Racism Found In Everyday Encounters

Racism of white nationalists is obvious; the racism of well-intentioned whites is mostly obscure, at least to white people.

What's Wrong With This Religious Wedding?

Getting married in a religious ceremony when couples don't really believe can create serious problems, for the couple and the religion.

"My Thoughts and Prayers Are With You"

Public condolences may actually be harmful.

Monuments and Holidays

It's time to think about what we celebrate and why.

Honoring the National Anthem—Standing and Kneeling

Controversy around sports figures kneeling during the national anthem raises the question: What do the anthem and flag really stand for?

Shaming Children

Schools stigmatize children to get them to pay for school meals. It's psychologically damaging and morally wrong.

Today's Spiritual Crisis

The inner and the outer selves are separated at our own peril.

The Best Way to Die

Is it better to rage, rage against death or to go gently into the night?

The Victim Is To Blame

There is a reason why some blame the victim: it is a matter of their moral system.

We Are Programmed for Fairness

You know when you're not treated fairly; it's built into your biology.

Internet Addiction Can Land You in Detention Camp

I'm frustrated by my students' inability to put away their electronic devices. One country responds to the growing addiction.

When It's Time to Forgive

You've been hurt—maybe you shouldn't forgive.

What Would You Do if You Weren't Afraid?

The balance between too much fear and not enough of it is the proper place to be, most of the time.

Intelligence Is No Bar to Irrationality

Have you ever wondered why smart people do irrational things?

Is Neuroscience Today's Phrenology?

To reject the findings of science is to choose stupidity; to reject the liberal arts is to choose an immature heart.

Public and Police on Edge After Cop Killings

Can the website communtiesandpolicetalk.org help make for better policing?

Kill 1 to Save 5: The Choice a Driverless Car May Make

Will driverless cars use logic or empathy?

Not Seeing a Person's Color Is Nearly Impossible

Martin Luther King, Jr. begged for the day when a person would be judged by the content of their character, not the color of their skin. But can we really be color blind?

Ways to the Human Heart

Short sayings, along with poetry, are an important avenue of approaching morality, which is as much about the human spirit as it is about human nature.

Why College Applications Aren't Fair

How colleges should choose an incoming class is as complex as higher education itself.

There Is Such a Thing As Too Much Giving

Huge sums of charitable giving don’t merely supplement public spending; they subvert it.

Barriers to Adoption for Same Sex Couples

Children may suffer in families for many reasons but being raised by a gay individual or couple is not, in and of itself, one of them.

Political Correctness vs. Free Speech

The beginning of real eduction is feeling uncomfortable.

Violence in the Name of God

The issue isn’t whether terrorists and fanatics are acting in the name of their religion but whether they are acting on behalf of humanity.

More Guns, Safer Schools?

Volatile situations produce panic and you need rigorous training to know how to react properly. Putting more guns in the hands of more people isn’t the way to safety.

Four Questions Every Patient Needs to Ask

When a doctor recommends a test or procedure, come prepared with four questions to help you think clearly.

Forgiveness May Harm Society

After the shooting in Charleston and terrorist attacks elsewhere, a question arises: is there anything that cannot be forgiven?

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