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Benjamin Rossi

Benjamin Rossi received his PhD in philosophy from the University of Notre Dame. His primary research interests are in ethics, moral responsibility, and political philosophy. He currently attends Duke Law School.

photograph of doctor holding syringe and medicine for vaccination

COVID-19

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21 Aug 2020

Who Should Get the Vaccine First?

Our basic equality needs to be respected in processes that determine who gets what.

close-up photograph of Jerry Falwell Jr. at speaking engagement

Philosophy

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10 Aug 2020

Hypocrisy and the Fall of Falwell

Inconsistency, self-deception, deceit? What is it about hypocrisy that provokes such strong feelings of moral outrage?

photograph of empty oval office

Does Character Matter?

Is it important for a leader to be virtuous, to be seen as virtuous, or to not be distracted by virtue at all?

7 Aug 2020

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photograph of Chicago Tribune building

How to Spot an Anti-Semitic Trope, and What to Do About It

The space between literal meaning and use-meaning allows bad-faith actors to claim ignorance about controversial messaging.

6 Aug 2020

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photograph of computer screen displaying Harper's Letter

Under Discussion: Five Arguments Against the Harper's Letter

Criticism of the letter tends to move far beyond the words on the page. That move is no doubt justified in some circumstances, but perhaps not justified in all.

27 Jul 2020

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photograph of "Made in the USA" embroidered pillow will US flag pillow in background

Is There an Ethical Duty to Buy American?

Is our unwavering belief that we should support domestic products above all others anything more than jingoism?

17 Jul 2020

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photograph of symbol of law and justice in the empty courtroom

The BARD Standard and Justified Execution

Does the very possibility of wrongful conviction — inherent to the BARD standard — render capital punishment unconscionable?

15 Jul 2020

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photograph of Mike Henry beside poster of Cleveland character he voices

White Skins, Black Masks: Voice Acting and Representation

Combating the underrepresentation of people of color in the entertainment industry is an important goal, but the way we go about it is equally important.

6 Jul 2020

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photograph of newspaper printing press in operation

Tom Cotton's Op-Ed and the Aims of the Opinion Page

What obligations might news organizations have to the public in regards to choosing which opinions are fit to print?

3 Jul 2020

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Statue of confederate general Robert E Lee with spray painted writing on plinth

Removing Monuments, Grappling with History

With calls for removing Confederate monuments coming to a head, how should we view them in history? Context is key, and monuments alone do not constitute educational material.

19 Jun 2020

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