Ethics

Does the Trolley Problem Have a Problem?

What if your answer to an absurd hypothetical question had no bearing on how you behaved in real life?

Slate

Have Your Momos and Eat Them, Too

The situational flexibility of meat eating is part of Tibetan Buddhism itself.

Science

Science-Tested Tips to Be a Better Person

Research suggests several ways we can all become more virtuous.

The Wall Street Journal

‘The Character Gap’: How Good Are We Really?

From a young age, humans receive messages from school, religion, and society about developing a strong moral compass and learning how to do “the right thing.” But according to expansive psychological research, there is a gap between how good we are and how good we think we are.

WUNC

Inside The Future Of Artificial Intelligence

As developers design machines that teach themselves, questions remain over humans’ ability to effectively interact with artificially intelligent computers.

The State of Things, WUNC

What Would the Average Human Do?

Artificial intelligence researchers want to teach computers to make moral choices based on millions of human survey responses.

The Outline

What Are the Ethical Consequences of Immortality Technology?

If we treat death as a problem, what are the ethical implications of the highly speculative ‘solutions’ being mooted?

Aeon

Physical Remoteness Makes Killing Easier

People seem less reluctant to end the life of another being when they are not physically present for the distasteful act.

Pacific Standard

The Idea of Creating a New Universe in the Lab Is No Joke

The issue is not who might be offended by cosmogenesis, but what would happen if it were truly possible. How would we handle the theological implications? What moral responsibilities would come with fallible humans taking on the role of cosmic creators?

Aeon

Dazzled by Creativity: Why We Excuse Dishonest Acts

As it turns out, we all have a tendency to view unethical behavior as less dishonest when it also is creative.

Scientific American

Should Your Driverless Car Hit a Pedestrian to Save Your Life?

Surveys show that people generally believe autonomous vehicles should make an emergency decision for the greatest good — except if it might kill them.

The New York Times

Moral Math of Robots: Can Life and Death Decisions Be Coded?

A self-driving car has a split second to decide whether to turn into oncoming traffic or hit a child who has lost control of her bicycle. An autonomous drone needs to decide whether to risk the lives of a busload of civilians or lose a long-sought terrorist.

World Science Festival