Content on Ethics
Ethics of the Past, Present, and Future: The Dangerous History of Eugenics
How do we evaluate the legacies of useful discoveries made through morally reprehensible science?
Let There Be Light: Laser Weapons, Jammers, and 21st Century Ethical Implications
When are we shaped by our texts and creations, and when do they shape us?
Is Science Morally Neutral? The Curious Case of Fritz Haber
The German-Jewish scientist Fritz Haber is a classic example of how science is a double-edged sword.
Rationality Matters
A discussion between Dr. Steven Pinker and Rabbi Geoff Mitelman on Dr. Pinker’s new book, “Rationality: What It Is, Why It Seems Scarce, Why It Matters.”
Does It Matter If We Do the Right Thing for the Wrong Reasons?: A Conversation with Christian B. Miller, PhD
Rabbi Mitelman and Christian Miller (author of “The Character Gap”) discuss differing religious views of charity, justice and morality.
Understanding Ethics from the Inside: A Conversation with Rabbi Jonathan K. Crane, PhD
Rabbi Mitelman and Rabbi Jonathan K. Crane, PhD, discuss the tough ethical decisions we currently face in public health and other areas, and how Judaism can help enlighten us about them.
Edge Cases of the Future: A Conversation with Samuel Arbesman, PhD
Rabbi Mitelman and Dr. Samuel Arbesman talk about how to handle the wonders, and the risks, of technology.
Jewish Ethics in COVID-19
Since none are beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, whatever is thought about it, including bioethical thinking about it, is necessarily being done from within it.
COVID-19 and the Least of These
The vulnerabilities of illness do not define the person, but require that they receive extra care.
COVID-19 and the Future of Ethical Imagination
How do we build more a just and compassionate world during the COVID-19 crisis?
The Essential Chaplain
“Caring for the least of these” is still the kind of neighbor love that is called for, but what does that look like during a pandemic?
Genetic Engineering For The Rest of Us
How we can teach so many of the complicated nuances of genetics to laypeople, clergy, students, and others who may be new to the big debates?