Academic Ethics Today

Reviews / Votes

A timely and provocative anthology by leading philosophers, created by an editor with a life-long interest in good teaching and ethical administration in higher education. -- Gregory E. Pence, University of Alabama at Birmingham Steven Cahn is a giant when it comes to academic ethics. This is a must-read for everyone in academe. -- David Levinson, President Emeritus, Connecticut State Community College Academic Ethics Today is an outstanding collection of 31 thought provoking new essays by leading philosophers. The chapters address a broad range of moral questions concerning academic life, from the nature of academic freedom and professors' responsibilities to the role of administrators and the social mission of the university. The volume is arranged in 14 topical sections, allowing readers to access multiple perspectives on each theme. This collection is essential for anyone working in academia. -- Robert B. Talisse This is a valuable addition to the growing body of work on the ethical dimensions of higher education. As universities are subjected to moral scrutiny from all points on the political spectrum, its wide-ranging chapters offer models of deeply informed and ethically astute analysis from which we can all learn. -- Randall Curren, University of Rochester Steven Cahn has done a masterful job bringing together diverse and insightful scholars to examine important moral considerations in higher education. From admissions and athletics to technology and tenure, no ethically controversial issue for colleges and universities is off limits. Too often analyses of higher education - and even ethics - are centered on perspectives from the social sciences to the exclusion of the humanities. This volume bucks that trend and importantly centers philosophical thinking; chapter authors lay out astute arguments and key implications for ethical decision-making by campus leaders. Each timely issue is considered in a nuanced way, accessible and relevant to students, professors, and academic leaders alike. -- Michele S. Moses, Vice Provost and Associate Vice Chancellor for Faculty Affairs, University of Colorado, Boulder Kudos to Steven Cahn for assembling this important and timely collection. The essays, written by a first rate set of authors, take on pressing moral issues facing universities and their students and faculties with clarity, insight, and a fair measure of audacity. The book is full of thoughtful and challenging arguments. It should be of interest to anyone involved in university life. -- Harvey Siegel, University of Miami How do active anti-racism and anti-bias programs fit with free-speech protection? Can a series of blog posts constitute a legitimate part of a tenure case? Do academic administrators often seem to be lying or otherwise unduly circumspect? These are just a few of the topics addressed by the exceptionally thought-provoking, highly readable, philosophical essays in this important and timely volume. -- Nancy Bauer, former Dean of Academic Affairs in the School of Arts and Sciences at Tufts University