iThink: An Ethics Cafe

Wednesday, September 21^st

The Rivalry?
Big-time university athletic programs generate revenue and scholarship opportunities for athletes, but are they good overall for schools? Discussion with Charles Clotfelter, Z. Smith Reynolds Professor of Public Policy and Professor of Economics and Law; Wayne Norman, Mike and Ruth Mackowski Professor of Ethics; and Orin Starn, Chair and Professor of Cultural Anthropology. More info.

Wednesday, October 3^rd

Invisible Employment
The GDP measures economic output, but it doesn’t measure all work done in a country. Take a closer look at labor that is ignored and/or undervalued in American society. Discussion with Lori Leachman, Professor of the Practice of Economics; and Gunther Peck, Fred W. Shaffer Associate Professor of History and Public Policy. More info.

Wednesday, October 19^th

Postponed! New date TBA

Herd Immunity?
What are the implications of forced vaccinations? Does the government have the right to mandate vaccinations, even for sexually transmitted diseases? Should parental rights trump the good of the herd? Discussion with John Moses, M.D. of Duke University Medical Center’s Pediatrics Department and the Duke Center for Documentary Studies. More info.

Wednesday, November 2^nd

What Is the Occupy Movement?
What is Occupy? How do we understand the diverse goals of a grassroots movement like Occupy? In lieu of our regularly scheduled iThink discussion we’ve teamed up with Duke Political Union for a timely conversation about social movements, civil disobedience, and the ethics of protest.

The discussion will feature Rann Bar-On, lecturer in the Department of Mathematics, Thomas Nechyba, Professor of Economics, and Guillermo Trejo, Assistant Professor of Political Science.

Grab some pizza and iThink’s signature cupcakes listen to our 3 experts discuss their differing opinions on the Occupy movement and the ethics involved.

Discussion to be held November 2nd, from 7:30-8:30 in room 217 of Perkins Library. More info.

Wednesday, November 16^th

The US and the Arab Spring
What are the ethical implications of the Arab Spring on American and global poltics? Can we support new democracies without serious security concerns? How has social media changed opportunities for revolution and social change? What does Occupy have to do with anything? Discussion with Professor Peter Feaver of Duke’s Political Science Department and Professor Rebecca Stein of Duke’s Cultural Anthropology and Women’s Studies departments. More info.

The event will be held Wednesday, November 16th in the Breedlove Room of Perkins Library from 6:30-7:30 pm.

Wednesday, November 30^th

The Chain of Command
In the wake of the still-roiling scandal at Penn State, join us for a discussion on how the chain of command helps—and hinders—moral action. In large institutions, defined procedures and hierarchies create clear guides for action and accountability. But what happens when you aren’t sure the chain of command is working the way it should? With Professor John Burness. More info.

Wednesday, January 25^th

Religiosity in a Secular World
Finding one’s identity is a challenge most students face, but representing a religious identity can be especially daunting. Universities are places that value diversity in ideas, but they sometimes seem less welcoming to notions and practice of religious faith. How can students represent who they are in a diverse and manifestly secular community? With Duke Chapel Dean Sam Wells. More info.

Wednesday, February 22^nd

Conflict Minerals and Global Advocacy
The mineral-rich-but-politically-unstable Democratic Republic of the Congo is one of a handful of countries in which ores like Columbite-tantalite (coltan) are widely available. These so-called “conflict minerals” are essential for making consumer electronics. Many argue something should be done, but what? What does thoughtful global advocacy look like? Do we help the most by being judicious consumers? By pressuring governments to better regulate trade? How much information do we need before we can feel confident we are advocating for the best solutions? With Duke Visiting Professor of African and African American Studies Stephen Smith. More info.

Wednesday, March 21^st

Ethics and I-Banking
While critics and the media often reinforce an image of greed and ruthlessness in the financial services industry, banks continue to respond defensively and proactively to protect a reputation that they argue has been unfairly marred in recent years. How do we reconcile the industry’s reputation with its recent efforts to change? What should we want to change about this lucrative and prestigious field? With Emma Rasiel, Director of the Duke Financial Education Partnership. More info.