Practical Ethics

An examination of the conduct of the Israel Defense Forces in the wake of the Hamas attacks of 7 October 2023, and the question of whether it amounts to genocide. A philosophical argument in support of the ethical and legal principle of noncombatant ... more

Assuming that people have a basic right not to be killed, is that an absolute right? Or can murderers forfeit that right? If capital punishment can be justified in theory, are there enough significant concerns about it in practice that it ought to be... more

Several concerns about Trump's character, actions that would preclude a security clearance, his handling of classified information, his fawning behavior toward Vladimir Putin, and his illegal attempts to overturn the 2020 election, all of which indic... more

An argument supporting the use of IVF and genetic testing by prospective parents seeking to avoid passing on serious genetic diseases to their children.

An interview of Dr. Martin L. Cook, one of our country's best experts on military ethics and just-war theory.  He taught at the U.S. Army War College, the Naval War College, and the Air Force Academy.  His extensive CV and several video recordings of... more

Geoffrey Stone, Distinguished Service Professor of Law at the University of Chicago, comments on the June 2022 decision of the U.S. Supreme Court in Dobbs v. Jackson that overruled Roe v. Wade and declared that the U.S. Constitution does not guarante... more

An interview of Dr. Daniel Dombrowski, Professor of Philosophy at Seattle University. His views on abortion are also summarized near the end.

An interview of Dr. Charles Schaefer, Professor of History and International Studies at Valparaiso University. (Note that in the podcast I erroneously referred to him as Associate Professor, when he is actually a full professor.)