Barrett, The Honors College faculty fellow Jennifer Brian poses for a photograph at her desk. Jennifer Brian is one of the three coaches for the ASU Ethics Bowl. (Photo by Ryan Liu)Although controversial ethical issues may not have right or wrong answers, the first ASU Ethics Bowl team is preparing acute arguments and insightful analysis to take the regional competitions in November.
The first ASU team will travel to Seattle to partake in the Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl, which is an academic competition run by the Association for Practical and Professional Ethics to give students an opportunity to address some of the most troubling ethical issues in a fun and educational way.
The Lincoln Center for Applied Ethics Director Jason Robert, who is in charge of the program that sponsors the team, said the competition will be an excellent opportunity for students to travel, network and expand intellectual capacity.
“The best reason (to join the team) is to be able to participate in the responsible and reasonable discussion about complex social issues,” he said. “It allows us to expand our horizons, it allows us to clarify our own views and our values and given the selection of coaches, I think it’s going be heck of a lot of fun.”
Faculty members and students discuss recruitment for the first ASU Ethics Bowl team at the open house meeting on Sept. 15, 2014.? (Photo Courtesy of the Lincoln Center for Applied Ethics)During the tournament, students will prepare and present an analysis of an ethical case, which will be followed by a response from the opposing team and judges' questions.
The teams will also gain points for spirit – an ability to exemplify ethics within the team, to be respectful of the other teams and enthusiastic about the case.
Although only one student can address each ethical issue at the competition, all members of the team will contribute to the analysis of the 15 cases, which are already disclosed to the students. The cases incorporate questions about troubling ethical issues including child euthanasia, unrealistic social body norms and sexbots.
Jenny Brian, an Honors Faculty Fellow at Barrett, the Honors College and coach for the Ethics Bowl, was one of three faculty members contacted by the Lincoln Center for Applied Ethics to gather a team of students and guide them in the preparation for the regional competitions.
During her classes on bioethics, Brian always tells her students there are no right or wrong answers, but there are better and worse ones, she said.
“(The competition) is not like a debate, because both teams can come to the same answer,” she said. “They can both think that what happens in the case is wrong, but it matters what your analysis is. Have you thought carefully about the counter arguments and considered all of the different viewpoints, and have you addressed them with respect, dignity and integrity?”
The criteria of evaluation include the ability to understand and thoroughly articulate the central ethical dimensions of the case, present effective arguments and respond effectively to challenges raised by the opposing team and judges.
Although the tournament originated in 1993 at the Illinois Institute of Technology and has attracted more than 100 competing teams in 2008, ASU students will form the first team to experience Ethics Bowl this year.
The competition aims to give students an educational opportunity which can be applicable in their future careers and personal lives as well as develop critical thinking skills and ability to discuss controversial ideas, Brian said.
“The Ethics Bowl is not only the opportunity to travel but it’s also an extra opportunity to develop your critical thinking skills and your ability to discuss controversial ideas with people with whom you might disagree,” Brian said. “That’s an absolutely valuable skill and I’m hoping it will be a really valuable experience.”
The team, which consists of about seven students so far, is open to the new members. The small team is not only an opportunity for all members to travel to the regional competitions, but also a good chance to get to know each other better, Brian said.
“It’s our first time, we‘re figuring it out,” Brian said. “But I’m hoping that we can build the community and also help the students become better and smarter.”
Biochemistry senior Alison Evans said she joined the team hoping to learn how to better formulate arguments to discuss ethical issues.
Her life goal is to get her doctorate in history of science by looking at the intersections of ethics and technology throughout history. One of the main challenges of the competition is to communicate an idea, she said.
“Any other team could be as right as you are, so really the challenge is being able to convey your ideas in a really clear and concise way and get your point across,” she said.
Reach the reporter at kmaryaso@asu.edu or follow on Twitter @KseniaMaryasova
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