Teaching practical ethics

Abstract

For several decades, we have had an interest in introducing ethics across the curriculum at our universities, especially in areas that help students prepare for their working careers. This has involved encouraging faculty from a variety of disciplines other than philosophy to reflect with their students on the ethical problems one is most likely to face in professional and working life. Many students are already working and are anxious to discuss the ethical difficulties that occur daily in their work places. Without a strong background in philosophical ethics is it appropriate for faculty in these disciplines to take on the educational task of trying to help their students anticipate and think through possible solutions to the ethical problems they are likely to encounter? Our answer is, yes; and, as we will maintain below, we believe Thomas Reid would give the same response.