Ethics Matters

This episode focusses on the concept of consequences as a means by which we can make ethical judgements. It considers the extent to which conscience guides our ethical decision-making, and the ‘gut-feel’ consequentialism of doing the most good for the many. Through thought experiments (the trolley problem) it critiques simple consequentialism and explores the implications of a strictly consequentialist ethical view.

This episode focusses on non-consequentialist ethics through an exploration of the concepts of rights (duties) and obligations. It considers whether strict consequentialism will lead us to an ethical framework which is too abstract from the individual ethical agents (people) involved, and the role of motivations as a factor in our ethical judgements. It also critiques the concept of human rights, questioning how far these rights extend and how we can differentiate between a fundamental right and an interest.

This episode is focussed on the questions arising from our attempts to apply ethical principles and concepts to social institutions. It explores the dilemma of egalitarian and libertarian philosophies, questioning whether the ethical concept of justice is best understood through the concept of equality, or of freedom. It distinguishes between different types of freedom (positive and negative) and explores the social benefits which can arise from restricting or regulating some individual freedoms.

This episode is primarily focussed on ethical issues arising from freedom of speech. It questions whether (and in what contexts) speech should be restricted or censored, and whether there are some forms of speech (and expression more generally) which should not be protected. The episode considers the question of whether pornography should be considered as free expression, and briefly explores debates related to censorship of video games and other media. It raises the ethical dilemma of whether we should protect the freedom of people to express themselves, or protect people from the harm which can be caused by others’ speech.

This episode is focussed on the ethical issues arising from the social expectations and regulations on how we treat our own bodies. It begins with the question of bodily freedom and the effects of social and cultural values regulating what is acceptable and what is not. It explores the role of culture in creating social obligations regarding clothing, hair-styles and body modification which restrict individual freedom. It concludes with a brief exploration of disability, questioning the ethical role of scientific responses to disability, and whether ‘problems’ arising from disability (for instance wheelchair inaccessibility) are problems of the body, or of the social structures which privilege the able-bodied.

This episode focusses on the ethical issues arising from punishment and forgiveness. It considers whether resentment or anger have an ethically positive role to play when responding to wrong-doing, and whether forgiveness should have limits. Through a case-study of holocaust survivors the episode explores the psychological burdens and benefits of forgiveness. It also considers the ethical justifications for institutionalised (state) punishments and the communicative purpose of the criminal justice and gaol systems.

This episode is focussed on the ethical issues arising from our global market economy. There is a particular focus on ethical consumerism as it applies to ‘sweatshop’ industries and products produced cheaply by poorly paid workers in potentially dangerous workplaces. The episode questions where the responsibility should rest for any wrong-doing in a company’s supply chain, and to what extent the consumer of a product is responsible for any wrong-doing which occurred in the products manufacture, transport or sale. It considers the ethics of boycotting products and explores alternative actions through which people can try to act as ethical consumers.

This episode focusses on the question of whether we should bear any responsibility for the actions of our ancestors. It considers Australia’s history, with a particular focus on the treatment of Indigenous Australians and the Stolen Generations, and asks whether a nation should be treated as an intergenerational ethical person. The discussion distinguishes between the ethical acts of apology, acknowledgment, and guilt.

This episode begins with a discussion of why a separation of church and state has been historically valued. It explores the effects of stereotypes and over-generalising, and the effects of religion on establishing secular ethical values. The episode also addresses how religions can divide society, and the dilemmas we face when religious practices run counter to secular ethical principles, or to the ethical principles of other religious groups. It concludes on a distinction between tolerance and acceptance of other religious beliefs (or no religious belief).

This episode is focussed on ethical issues arising from national borders and the migration of people. It begins from the question of why borders should be valued, and considers the arbitrary effects of borders on quality of life and freedom of movement. The episode also explores concepts of national identity, our humanitarian ethical obligations, and the ethical dilemmas which can arise from multiculturalism.

This episode is focussed on ethical issues arising from our treatment of animals. It begins from the question of what rights we should grant animals, and discusses factory farming, vegetarianism, Buddhist traditions, animal sentience, the protection of endangered species, animal experimentation, and the potential creation of genetic chimeras.

This episode considers ethical issues related to the environment and arising from human interaction with the natural world. Discussion begins with a question of whether the environment is valuable only for its benefits to humanity, or whether it is inherently valuable. The episode also explores concepts of responsibility, collectivism and global inequality.