Grade Level: High School & Beyond

Beliefs and Evidence

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Materials needed: Paper and pen/pencil Description: Begin by having a loose discussion about the difference between “opinion” and “knowledge.” This should bring up claims about reasons, evidence, and proof. After a brief discussion about this difference, have the students write down three things they know. For each statement, have the students write down their best … Beliefs and Evidence

Laws

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Materials needed: paper and pen/pencil Description: Start by asking “What is a law?” Allow a number of students to speak to get several ideas on the table. Likely they will talk about rules, punishments, order, peace, and the government. The central idea found in these suggestions will probably be “a rule made by the government for … Laws

Shallow Pond and Charity

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Photograph of a blue pond in a field of grass

Materials needed: Piece of paper, writing utensil Activity: (1) Ask the students what makes an action “good” and what makes an action “wrong.” Create a list on the board. Some things often brought up for good actions are that they are directed at helping others, are beneficial in some way, and that they aren’t against the … Shallow Pond and Charity

The Ethics of Self-driving Cars

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simple drawing of cars and trucks on windy road

Self-driving cars are already cruising the streets today. And while these cars will ultimately be safer and cleaner than their manual counterparts, they can’t completely avoid accidents altogether. How should the car be programmed if it encounters an unavoidable accident? Patrick Lin navigates the murky ethics of self-driving cars. Patrick Lin navigates the murky ethics … The Ethics of Self-driving Cars

Implicit Bias

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Background content: Ideally students would have read some background content on implicit bias before the conversation. One possibility is Kelly and Roedder’s 2008 paper “Racial Cognition and the Ethics of Implicit Bias.” (available on the Resources tab). Only assign the first half of the reading, as it gives some background on implicit bias and empirical … Implicit Bias

What is Philosophy?

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Introduction to Philosophy/Making Arguments Materials: True/False handout for each student (see “Handout” below for specifics) Two signs, “True” and “False,” placed on opposite sides of the room At the start of class, ask students what they know about philosophy already. Call on a few students. If students need prompting, ask “Do you know any philosophers? … What is Philosophy?

Crash: An Ethical Obstacle Course

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Crash, directed by Paul Haggis, weaves together the lives of several characters from multiple backgrounds who collide in the busy, often chaotic city of Los Angeles.  The movie revolves around a dozen or so characters from various ethnic, racial, and cultural background whose lives entwine and entangle, often with unpleasant consequences.  In the film, racism and … Crash: An Ethical Obstacle Course

Silent Discussion on Ethical Dilemmas

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Photograph of a group of young students writing on a large sheet of paper during a "Silent Discussion on Ethical Dilemmas" class

Materials Needed: Preparation: Description: (Optional) Warm up to help students gain a sense of their intuitions about the topic, either by presenting anecdotes, questions, or connecting to previous discussions.You can begin by asking everyone to write down a list of “the most important rules to live by.” “Treat others how you want to be treated” … Silent Discussion on Ethical Dilemmas