Ethics in Culture

In February, Dr. Wesley Cray of Grand Valley State University presented his talk “That’s Not Art” as a part of the Young Philosophers Lecture Series hosted by the Prindle Institute and … Continue reading "That’s Not Art!"

One of the many reasons that weighing ethical dilemmas is such a challenge is because we’re often faced with a conflict between measurable and immeasurable value. We see this often in relation to environmental issues. Because we can’t … Continue reading "Mes Aynak’s Intrinsic Cultural Value"

The NFL has definitely taken some hard knocks lately.  One of these issues that the League has struggled with over the last decade is controversy over the brain damage that … Continue reading "The NFL’s Concussion Controversy"

This Guest Author post by Dr. Jeff McCall was originally published in The Indy Star on April 24, 2015. NBC’s high-profile anchor, Brian Williams, has been suspended for telling tall … Continue reading "The Deterioration of TV News"

Cultural appropriation is when a dominant group adapts the customs of a minority group and tries to trademark them as their own in an effort to be edgy and/or to … Continue reading "Cultural Appropriation in Entertainment"

The conflict in Syria is a humanitarian catastrophe on a massive scale, with hundreds of thousands dead and millions of others forced to flee their homes. Recently, the BBC has … Continue reading "Electronic Empathy: Video Games as Media"

The motorcycle racing community was in uproar for months following the decision handed down by the FIM (Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme/International Motorcycle Federation) to ban pro Supercross/Motocross racer James Stewart … Continue reading "Adderall Aftermath: The Implications of James Stewart’s Supercross Ban"

The Janet Prindle Institute for Ethics is proud to announce that Christopher Hager will be the 2015-2016 Nancy Schaenen Endowed Visiting Scholar of Ethics. Dr. Hager received his bachelor’s degree … Continue reading "Frederick Douglass Prize Winner will be the 2015-2016 Schaenen Scholar"

DePauw is well known for its many off-campus classes, faculty-led excursions, and high rates of students who study abroad. Whether DePauw students choose to stay on campus or venture off … Continue reading "Art of Awareness 2015 Winning Photos"

Though overwhelmingly panned in reviews (a critic from The Observer called it “utter nonsense”), Jupiter Rising was a remarkably thought-provoking film. For all of its excess, it raised some good ethical questions.

The film “India’s Daughter” has stirred up controversy worldwide over the past few days. The film details the brutal gang rape of 23-year-old Jyoti Singh, a medical student, on a … Continue reading "Banning “India’s Daughter”"

The World Cup is a “global experience” filled with an overwhelming amount of passion felt by soccer fans worldwide. It is a unique experience, and one that unifies all corners … Continue reading "Preparation for the 2022 World Cup is far from ethical play"

50 Shades has swept audiences off their feet, selling 100 million copies worldwide, and making $237.7 million in its global opening in theaters. In many ways, this success could have … Continue reading "Let’s Talk About…50 Shades of Grey (Part I)"

This post by Dr. Jeff McCall was originally published by The Indy Star. Let’s remember a key fact as we prepare snacks and grab the remote to watch the Super Bowl. The … Continue reading "Media Have Warped Our Perception Of Athletes"

Receiving employment after prison can be difficult for many who are released; in fact, unemployment can lead to multiple offenses in the long run. While rehabilitation is generally good for … Continue reading "Convicted Felons in Professional Sports"

I have been a student athlete for as long as I can remember. From personal experience, it is not an easy task. Learning how to balance schoolwork with a regimented … Continue reading "Student-Athletes: Expectations and Responsibilities"

Among my friends, I would be one of the first to readily admit one thing: I love dogs. Pugs, specifically. My personal allegiance to my family’s dog aside, pugs are … Continue reading "An Unhealthy Obsession: Pugs and the Demand for Cuteness"

Facebook is a place used for self-expression; many people use it to update others about their lives or post about how they’re feeling. Anthony Elonis, a man from Pennslyvania, used … Continue reading "Rap on Facebook and the Supreme Court"

We have all heard it before: the kid out on the baseball field shouts, “you hit like a girl.” Adults do it too. In fact, just last fall my sister’s … Continue reading "‘Like a Girl:’ A cultural context"

By Erik Kwakkel This post was originally posted at Medieval Books, and is posted here with Dr. Kwakkel’s permission.  Old furniture, broken cups, worn-out shoes and stinky mattresses: we don’t think twice … Continue reading "Destroying Medieval Books – And Why That’s Useful"