A different kind of debate at a different kind of place.
Ethics bowl is a debate-style competition that focuses on contemporary moral problems. Unlike typical debate competitions, the judging criterion focuses more on key elements of constructing a well-reasoned argument in a civil manner. The Prindle Institute for Ethics is home to a variety of opportunities to participate in ethics bowl programming. Learn more about all of the Prindle Institute’s ethics bowl opportunities below. Contact Emily Knuth (eknuth@depauw.edu) to find out where you or your team might benefit from one of our ethics bowl opportunities.
Indiana High School
Ethics Bowl Competition
in preparation for a debate
Each February, teams from high schools across Indiana compete for a spot at the national ethics bowl competition, hosted by the University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill. Please contact Emily Knuth (eknuth@depauw.edu) with any questions.
More about Indiana High School Ethics BowlAttention Indiana High School Educators!
The Prindle Institute grants up to $500 to start and coach an ethics bowl team at your high school during the 2023-2024 school year. Grants will be awarded on a rolling first-come, first-served basis. Half of the grant ($250) will be awarded to the educator on December 1, 2024. The final payment will be issued the week after the competition (February 5-9, 2024).
Contact Emily Knuth (eknuth@depauw.edu) with any questions.
Grants available
Scenes from High School Ethics Bowl competitions held at the Prindle Institute for Ethics.
DePauw University Ethics Bowl Team
The Prindle Institute has proudly sponsored DePauw teams competing in collegiate ethics bowl competitions for several years. Since 2004, DePauw’s teams have won or placed second at the Central States Regional competition six times and moved on to participate in the Ethics Bowl National Championship Competition. The 2012-2013 team emerged from the Seventeeth Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl Championship as the national champion. Professor of Philosophy Marcia McKelligan coaches the team and selects its members. Additional information about DePauw’s ethics bowl teams can be found here. Any DePauw student who is interested in joining the ethics bowl team should contact Marcia McKelligan (mamck@depauw.edu).