Past Symposia

The 2025 Midwest Ethics Symposium, Ethics and Sports, turned its attention to the ethical dimensions of athletics, convening academics, sports professionals, students, and alumni for two days of dialogue on April 9–10. Keynote speaker Richard Lapchick, renowned activist and founder of the Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport, delivered “The Power of Sport to Impact Social Justice.” Sessions explored a wide range of questions, from cheating, doping, and tanking to the risks of violent and extreme sports. Panels featured referees from the Big Ten, Indiana high school basketball, and Division III soccer, as well as DePauw faculty and student-athletes reflecting on the balance of academics and athletics. Other highlights included conversations on fairness, robot referee technology, gender and identity in sport, and the role of women leaders in athletics. The event showcased the many ways sport intersects with justice, risk, identity, and human flourishing.

The 2024 Midwest Ethics Symposium, The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence, brought together leading thinkers and practitioners to explore the ethical implications of artificial intelligence. The conference, held from April 16-18, 2024, featured a diverse range of presentations and panel discussions. Keynote speakers Jon Gertner and Nate Nichols ’05 set the tone for the event, addressing critical issues at the intersection of ethics and AI. The symposium covered a wide array of topics, including the future of work, AI welfare, and biomedical ethics. Notable presentations included Ricky Mouser’s exploration of “Superintelligence and Suicide,” and Jo Ann Oravec’s examination of AI’s impact on human cognition and rights in the workplace. The panel on AI and Education, featuring Andrew Rosner ’05 and Samuel Bennett, provided valuable insights into the transforming landscape of learning. Existential risk was a key theme, with William D’Alessandro’s talk on “AI, Domination and Control of Humanity’s Future” sparking intense discussions. The symposium also delved into more specific applications of AI, such as Rachel Robison-Greene’s presentation on AI and robotics in food systems. Throughout the conference, attendees engaged in thought-provoking discussions on responsibility gaps in AI decision-making, the ethics of AI-generated content, and the potential impacts of brain-computer interfaces. The event successfully highlighted the complex ethical challenges posed by AI’s rapid advancement across various sectors of society.

The 2023 Symposium, Money and Democracy, brought together scholars and students to explore pressing ethical issues in our politics. The two-day event featured a keynote address by Emma Saunders-Hastings on “Rethinking Dirty Money,” followed by a series of thought-provoking presentations and discussions. Topics ranged from behavioral interventions and effective altruism to mutual aid and socially responsible business practices. Speakers from various universities, including Ohio State, Arizona State, and the University of Wisconsin, presented their research, with commentators providing critical insights. The symposium also included an undergraduate session, showcasing emerging scholarship in the field. This gathering offered a unique opportunity for academics, practitioners, and students to engage in meaningful dialogue about contemporary ethical challenges and their implications for society.