20 Ethics Term Paper Topics That Will Land You the Best Grade

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  • Smoking and the Effects of Smoking on People’s General Health
  • The Negative Effects of Alcohol Consumption for the Skin
  • Debate on the Pros and Cons of Assisted Suicide: Is It Moral or Immoral?
  • Cybersecurity and the Effects It Has on People’s Privacy Online
  • Do Men and Women Have Equal Right in Today’s Modern Society?
  • Organic Foods and the Unprecedented Benefits They Have on Our Lifestyles
  • How ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) Is Affecting the Way Students Learn
  • How Plagiarism is Hindering a Student’s Academic Success
  • The Detrimental Effects of Air Pollution in Major Cities Worldwide
  • How to Combat Discrimination Among People with AIDS/HIV
  • Erasing the Dietary Supplements Stigma & How to Include Supplements into Your Diet without Jeopardizing Your Health
  • Strategies to Combat or Prevent Obesity in Youngsters: How Junk Food Can Destroy Your Body In the Long-Term
  • Controversial Aspects of Advanced Technology on Today’s Young Generation
  • Is Depression an Actual Disease or Just a Mood Disorder? Debunking the Myths that Depression Is Not an Illness
  • A Comprehensive Analysis of Damaging UV Rays for the Skin
  • Common Myths and Facts about the Internet of Things (IoT)
  • Should Animals Be Tested to Make Hair and Skin Products Safer?
  • Is Massive Immigration to Blame for Today’s Most Violent Terrorist Attacks?
  • How Social Media Can Affect Teenagers’ Self Esteem
  • Governmental Corruption and The Unethical Behavior of People in Power – Increased Power Comes with Great Responsibility

Landing a nice grade on an ethical term paper is a lot easier than most students think. The secret ingredient is to choose an interesting topic and make sure that all the claims that you make are backed by solid proof. The 20 ethics term paper topics we’ve presented should definitely pique your interest. Choose the one that’s the most attention-grabbing and you’ll definitely manage to wow your professors. Focus on facts and don’t beat around the bush. The more accurate you can be the higher the chances you have to set yourself apart from your colleagues.

What does ethics cover?

Ethics delves into the rational basis for our moral assessments, exploring what actions are morally right or wrong, fair or unfair. Broadly, ethics considers human beings’ relationships with nature and each other, as well as concepts like freedom, responsibility, and justice.

What is an ethics term paper?

An ethics term paper is an academic document that explores a specific ethical issue or concept in depth. It typically involves researching various perspectives, theories, and real-world examples related to the topic chosen. The paper aims to analyze, evaluate, and possibly propose solutions or recommendations based on ethical principles and reasoning. It often includes a thesis statement that guides the discussion and conclusions drawn from the research.

Who can can help me with writing my term paper?

You may ask your friends or roommates to help with your paper. Another option is to find reliable academic writing service like ThePensters.com and order custom term paper creation .

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177 Interesting Ethics Paper Topics For Your Thesis

ethics paper topics

Ethics is a branch of study in philosophy that studies the concept of morality—what is good or bad, what is acceptable or unacceptable. It’s a philosophical theory that looks into moral rules and codes, principles, value systems, and other related concepts.

In academia, an ethical theory is used as one of the analytical tools in drawing analysis on several socio-cultural topics. Ethics can be applied to any particular subject matter in human society. And, on this, so many compelling, controversial or interesting ethical topics for academic essays and research papers have continued to spring up.

For students writing either an essay or a research paper on ethics, there are some relevant things to note about a good essay/research topic and writing a dissertation. They include:

Brainstorm on different topics Always go for a topic you are familiar with Choose a topic that has enough “flesh”. This is important as interesting topics will help you develop your essay/research Define your subject of interest. It makes the writing easier Properly researching for topics that serve contemporary social relevance Outlining is important for your research topic

What following some of these processes does for your essay/research/thesis is that it enriches your work and affords you the ability to communicate ideas clearly to readers. Here are some topics in ethics you can use for your essay/research.

Interesting Top Level Ethics Paper Topics for All Students

Writing a paper on ethics makes for an interesting writing experience because they usually require that the writer make a case for a particular subject based on whether the subject is right or wrong. There are so many ethical topics for papers. As a student, there are several ethical questions to debate, and you can choose to model your topic using some of these samples:

  • Discuss what should be done concerning the rise in the ban on safe abortion
  • Is the right to safe abortion practice unethical?
  • Should abortion practice be promoted or championed for women in society?
  • Are humans truly the root source for the issues of climate change and global warming the world is currently experiencing?
  • Is it right to discriminate against the sexes?
  • Is there a defining difference between sexes and gender?
  • Is the practice of gender-based violence ethical?
  • Should safe sexual practices be promoted?
  • Sex: A Study of the growing practice of sexual relationships outside marriage
  • Domestic Violence and how it can be combated
  • Marijuana: The distinction to its health roles and health challenges it poses on individuals
  • Is it unethical to promote capitalism and capitalist concepts?
  • A Study of Racism and measures to ensure its decline
  • Is it ethical to be a millionaire while there are so many less privileged people?
  • A study of the ethical challenges that come with being in the academia
  • Is war an ethical practice?
  • Why LGBTQ+ people should not be discriminated against
  • What are the ways workplace ethics can address issues of homophobia and internalized sexism?
  • Is sexism in the workplace an ethical practice?
  • The issue of microaggression and how it can be addressed
  • A study of why workplaces need ethical conduct that monitors issues of workplace harassment
  • Should salaries be uneven?
  • How unethical are uneven salary payment structures?
  • Should start-up tech companies hire more men for starters?
  • How people can prioritize online privacy
  • Is bridging online privacy unethical?
  • Is the right to privacy unethical?

Engaging Ethical Dilemma Topics

As ethics deals with the debate on morals, one of the ways topics on ethics manifests is in the subject of dilemma. Topics like this focus on trying to find a suitable justification for one idea over another. There are several ethics topics to write about on this subject. Some of them include:

  • Should students be allowed to bring their phones to school?
  • Should parents police every social activity of their children?
  • Should teachers use the cane on students as a disciplinary measure?
  • Is flogging a good correctional practice?
  • Should you leave your partner if they are of opposing political views?
  • Should opposing religious beliefs be a deal-breaker in relationships?
  • Should capitalism be abolished completely?
  • Should a teacher maintain some level of friendship with their students?
  • Is there any lingering importance of capitalism to society?
  • Is revenge a viable option in a relationship if your partner cheats on you?
  • Is sharing your experiences online the same as showing off a lifestyle?
  • Should people from different religious beliefs and backgrounds partner?
  • Is checking the DNA of your children important or necessary?
  • Should parents enforce their children on behaviors to take up?
  • Can discipline properly correct the attitudes of a child?
  • Should eating junk foods be avoided completely?
  • Should Halloween Trick or Treat and Costume be prioritized over Thanksgiving Dinners?
  • Should children hold different religious beliefs from their parents while still young?
  • Does strict parenting serve as the best way to raise a child?
  • Is it important to reveal a secret to a friend or to keep one’s peace?
  • Should cooking at home be prioritized over eating out?
  • Is socialism a more suitable social practice than capitalism?
  • Is accepting financial assistance from your parents acceptable after a certain age?
  • Should school authorities seize phones brought to school?
  • Is sending a child to a mixed school better than same-sex schools?
  • Can afforestation alone save the world from global warming and the general climate change condition?
  • Does being educated equate with being intelligent?

Ethical Issues to Write about in Your College Essay

One important thing to note about ethical topics is that they touch across so many different subjects. As a college student preparing to write an essay on ethics, rest assured as there are so many ethics ideas to write about. Here are some ethical topics to write about:

  • Does Hiring female employees cover a company’s sexist motives?
  • Should Actors be paid more than teachers?
  • Taking medical decisions for a patient without their consent
  • How ethical is the interference of the judiciary by the legislative arm of government?
  • Is it ethical to fire someone due to their dress code?
  • Is it unethical to wear colored hair to work?
  • Is censorship ethical?
  • Where does media censorship draw the line?
  • Is it ethical for religious figureheads to meddle in state politics?
  • Should gender be the reason why a person is restricted access to certain social privileges?
  • Should sexuality be a discriminatory factor in society?
  • Should companies and places of work provide counseling and therapy services for their employees?
  • Can Children wear makeup on special occasions?
  • Is it unethical to make medical decisions for a patient without any recognizable relatives?
  • Does dress code need to affect how you are addressed?
  • Should implementing ethics in sports be recommended?
  • Is police brutality an ethical practice?
  • The impacts of the excessive consumption of media content?
  • Is the excessive use of social media healthy?
  • How can companies ensure paid maternal and paternal leave?
  • How can the inclusion of non-binary people in company policies promote growth?
  • Is exclusion on the grounds of sexuality ethical?
  • Is exclusion due to political beliefs unethical?
  • How to promote ethical work culture?
  • How can a company ensure that ethical practices are promoted in their companies?

Ethical Argument Topics to Write About

The best part about writing an ethical essay is that it is about anything that is of interest. An important aspect of the ethical argument topic is that it is supported with evidence. There are so many ethical topics to write about that fall within this category, and they include:

  • Is the having of ethical codes and conducts important in an organization?
  • Should people only implement progressive ideas to meet societal needs?
  • Why LGBTQ+ should not be discriminated against
  • Is it unethical to come to work late?
  • Is government-sanctioned execution an ethical practice?
  • Is the American incarceration system an effective corrective system?
  • Is corrective rape an ethical practice?
  • Should the issue of internalized homophobia be addressed?
  • Internalized patriarchy and internalized homophobia, which one births one
  • Should smoking weed be made legal?
  • Why do the less privileged need free healthcare services
  • A study of the effects of colonialism and internalized slavery
  • Must aspiring journalists only focus on journalism courses?
  • Addressing what it means to be of ethical behavior
  • Should students be given a take-home assignment?
  • Is there any academic relevance to assignments?
  • Is access to free healthcare important?
  • Does following the ethics code have abt social relevance?
  • What role should developed countries play for developing countries?
  • Is analysis writing an important aspect of literature?
  • What role does ethics play in schools
  • Should the address of global warming be continuous?
  • Is there room for possible positive developments in global warming?
  • Is the practice of ethics the same as moral teaching
  • Should schools create sex education into their education curriculum

Comprehensive Ethics Debate Topics for Anyone

Just like the argumentative ethics topic, a debate topic on ethics centers majorly on choosing a part to argue for or against. This argument also is wrapped with evidence to support it. Your ethic topics can be on any subject. You can choose moral topics or any other topic with relevance. Here are some lists of ethical debate topics anyone can write on:

  • Should the use of Contraceptives be promoted?
  • Does legalizing weed make it any healthier?
  • Should school children bring phones into school settings?
  • The health impact of excessive engagement on social media
  • Social relevance and importance of having ethical conducts
  • Do companies with ethical conduct grow ahead
  • Does ethics make a workplace safer?
  • Are there importance on why sex education should be added to student’s
  • Why safe abortion rights should be legalized
  • Why the discrimination based on sexuality is harmful
  • Why the practice of hedonism is important
  • Sexual pleasure: Is it morally good?
  • Is happiness dependent on an external factor?
  • Why Institutionalized racism is the root cause of racism and racist beliefs
  • Should the use of drugs be legalized?
  • Is there any progressive importance to having a conservative view on things?
  • Should social media apps allow explicit sexual content?
  • Should social app builders have access to individual account
  • Can homeschool match formal school training?
  • Should the government ensure censorship measures?
  • Is voting during elections the only form of patriotism?
  • Is voting a patriotic display
  • Are families allowed to have contradicting religious beliefs?
  • Should state governments have any interference with the federal government?
  • Should teenagers have access to contraceptives?

Good Ethical Research Papers for your Thesis or Dissertation

Writing either a thesis or a dissertation is a necessary part of academia. As a university student, you can’t graduate from only writing essays withiut writing your graduating thesis. There are so many areas your research paper about ethics can focus on. Here is a list of ethical topics:

  • The contemporary relevance of applied ethics
  • The psychological impacts of the proliferation of technology
  • A Case Study of the legality of weed
  • A multi-dimensional approach to the subject of marriage
  • An ethical approach to the killing of animals
  • A case study of the critical ethical debates on the use of contraception
  • An analytical study of the relevance of ethical conduct in the workplace
  • An investigation into the social relevance and importance of the beauty pageantry culture
  • A critical study of normative ethics
  • The role of applied ethics in the building of a healthy work culture
  • An overview of the barriers associated with good leadership practice
  • A Study of the importance of ethical practice in the healthcare system
  • The study of ethics in business social responsibility
  • An Overview on how Ethics promotes a saner working culture
  • A look into how ethics promotes healthy social relationships
  • The ethical relevance for Doctor and Patient Confidentiality
  • Malpractice and Negligence an ethically challenging issue within the healthcare system
  • The social and health relevance to access to free healthcare insurance
  • A Study of the social relevance of ethics
  • Violence: violence against animals is still abuse
  • A look into strategic approaches to managing cyber crimes
  • Ethic reasons for the separation of the church from politics
  • Ethical Conduct: How Organizations with practicable ethics produces a toxic work environment
  • A look into how Social media negatively impacts the IQ of a student
  • The role of self-awareness and professional responsibility impacts social ethics in the workplace

Good Ethical Questions for Discussion

Primarily, ethics asks and answers the question of wrong or good. There are so many social issues that will make for good ethical questions for discussion. Here is a list of ethical questions for students to form insights from:

  • How does ethics help to promote healthy workplace awareness?
  • Does the practice of abortion negate morality?
  • Is it right for a rape victim to be denied access to safe and free abortion?
  • How do homophobia, racism, misogyny, and ableist practices hinder social growth?
  • Should there be free access to condoms and contraceptive pills?
  • Is free access to contraceptives better than the provision of menstrual materials
  • How can racism be dismantled in an organization without consideration to institutionalized racism?
  • How does the continuous promotion of capitalist concepts hinder societal progress?
  • Does capitalism truly hinder social growth?
  • Why should there be free access to contraceptive materials especially for women?
  • What are the possible feasible solutions to the issue of climate change?
  • Is it unethical not to share the wealth?
  • Is engaging in warfare the right way to bring solutions?
  • Does the use of makeup contradict the concept of beauty?
  • Why are LGBTQ+ rights human rights?
  • Is the legalization of cannabis ethical?
  • Does the way you dress need to be the reason you are addressed a certain way?
  • Are there moral problems that come with job automation?
  • What can be done to combat the use of harmful substances
  • Why should companies stop discriminating based on sex?
  • What is the social relevance of providing workplace access?
  • Why should parents and teachers stop flogging students?
  • What is the distinction between discipline and strictness?
  • Should religious beliefs be a dealbreaker in any relationship?

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Ethics Research Paper Topics

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This page provides a comprehensive list of ethics research paper topics , aiming to guide students through the intricate labyrinth of moral and ethical discussions. Curated meticulously by iResearchNet, the guide not only presents diverse topics across various ethical domains but also imparts invaluable insights on choosing the ideal topic and formulating a compelling research paper. For both newcomers and those well-acquainted with ethics research, this resource stands as a beacon, illuminating the path to academic success.

100 Ethics Research Paper Topics

The vast field of ethics, deeply intertwined with the human experience, requires continual exploration and understanding. For students embarking on academic pursuits, identifying the right ethics research paper topics becomes paramount. Not only does it set the stage for meaningful inquiry, but it also determines the depth and breadth of the discourse. The study of ethics challenges individuals to dissect, question, and offer insights into the moral compass that guides societies. This extensive list has been curated to provide students with a wide array of ethics research paper topics, covering various domains, each reflecting the multi-faceted nature of ethical discussions.

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1. Medical Ethics :

  • Euthanasia & Assisted Suicide
  • Genetic Engineering
  • Reproductive Rights
  • Medical Data Privacy
  • Informed Consent
  • Healthcare Resource Allocation
  • Research on Vulnerable Groups
  • Organ Donation Ethics
  • Mental Health Ethics
  • Medical Tourism

2. Business Ethics :

  • Corporate Social Responsibility
  • Whistleblowing
  • Employee Rights
  • Ethical Advertising
  • Insider Trading
  • Sustainability in Business
  • Supply Chain Ethics
  • Consumer Rights
  • Business in Conflict Zones
  • Cultural Appropriation in Business

3. Environmental Ethics :

  • Conservation vs. Industrialization
  • Animal Rights & Welfare
  • Climate Change Morality
  • Genetic Modification of Crops
  • Resource Depletion
  • Ecotourism Ethics
  • Pollution & Accountability
  • Water Rights & Access
  • Biodiversity Ethics
  • Ethical Consumerism

4. Technological Ethics :

  • AI & Machine Learning Ethics
  • Digital Privacy
  • Cybersecurity Ethics
  • Bioengineering Ethics
  • Technology & Mental Health
  • Digital Addiction
  • Tech Industry Labor Ethics
  • Automation & Job Ethics
  • Virtual Reality Morality
  • Technology in Education Ethics

5. Digital & Media Ethics :

  • Misinformation & Fake News
  • Digital Censorship & Freedom of Speech
  • Representation in Media
  • Digital Influencers & Ethics
  • Intellectual Property in the Digital Age
  • Ethical Journalism in Conflict Zones
  • Social Media & Privacy Concerns
  • Ethics of Digital Activism
  • Gaming Industry Ethics
  • Media Consumption & Mental Health

6. Social & Cultural Ethics :

  • Gender Equality & Women’s Rights
  • Racism & Discrimination
  • LGBTQ+ Rights & Representation
  • Immigration & Refugee Ethics
  • Multiculturalism & Assimilation
  • Religious Tolerance & Freedom
  • Indigenous Rights & Representation
  • Social Welfare System Ethics
  • Income Inequality & Wealth Distribution
  • Child Rights & Protection

7. Educational Ethics :

  • Academic Integrity & Plagiarism
  • Equal Access to Quality Education
  • Standardized Testing & Ethics
  • Educator-Student Relationship Boundaries
  • Curriculum Bias & Representation
  • Special Needs Education Ethics
  • Tuition Fees & Student Debt
  • Technology in Classroom Ethics
  • Bilingual Education Ethics
  • Ethics of School Discipline & Punishments

8. Political & Governance Ethics :

  • Campaign Financing & Lobbying
  • Voter Rights & Suppression
  • Ethical Governance & Corruption
  • Surveillance & Citizen Privacy
  • International Diplomacy Ethics
  • War, Peacekeeping & Military Ethics
  • Human Rights & Global Governance
  • Ethics of Sanctions & Economic Pressure
  • Political Propaganda & Manipulation
  • Whistleblowing in Government

9. Sports & Recreation Ethics :

  • Doping & Performance Enhancing Drugs
  • Athlete Welfare & Rights
  • Gender & Sports: Equal Representation
  • Commercialization & Sport Sponsorships
  • eSports & Digital Gaming Ethics
  • Youth Sports & Pressure
  • Olympic Games & Politics
  • Fan Behavior & Hooliganism
  • Sports Journalism & Representation
  • Ethics of Sports Betting & Gambling

10. Art & Aesthetics Ethics :

  • Art Censorship & Freedom of Expression
  • Representation & Diversity in Art
  • Art & Cultural Appropriation
  • Ethics of Art Restoration & Preservation
  • Digital Art & Intellectual Property
  • Ethics of Art Criticism
  • Art in Public Spaces & Community
  • Funding & Sponsorship in the Arts
  • Technology & Art Fusion Ethics
  • Art as Activism & Political Expression

Within the broad spectrum of ethics research paper topics, lie endless opportunities to engage with pressing questions, challenge established norms, and contribute to the evolving ethical paradigms of the 21st century. As society grapples with new technologies, shifting global dynamics, and unprecedented challenges, the importance of ethical exploration cannot be overstated. We invite every student to dive deep into this list, to find their niche within the vast expanse of ethical topics. By selecting the right ethics research paper topics, they can position themselves at the forefront of dialogues that have the power to reshape our world’s moral landscape.

Browse More Ethics Research Paper Topics:

  • Applied Ethics
  • Care Ethics
  • Comparative Ethics
  • Descriptive Ethics
  • Evolutionary Ethics
  • Feminist Ethics
  • Meta-Ethics
  • Normative Ethics
  • Professional Ethics
  • Religious Ethics

The Range of Ethics Research Paper Topics

Introduction to Ethics as a Discipline At the heart of human existence lies the perennial question: What ought we to do? Ethics, a sophisticated branch of philosophy, is dedicated to answering this question, probing deep into the realms of right and wrong, duty, and responsibility. As societies, technologies, and cultures evolve, the exploration of ethical tenets has expanded, encompassing various domains and scenarios, from everyday life choices to complex geopolitical decisions.

Historical Context of Ethics Tracing back to antiquity, the ethical compass was set by seminal thinkers. Ancient Greeks, through the philosophical musings of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, dissected concepts of virtue, the purpose of life, and societal duties. Concurrently, in the East, doctrines of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Hinduism were offering profound insights into ethical living, highlighting righteousness, duty, and the cosmic order. These foundational thoughts provided the architecture for successive generations to build upon, creating a rich tapestry of ethical frameworks.

Evolution of Ethical Considerations The journey from medieval to modern times witnessed a fascinating evolution of ethics. The Middle Ages were dominated by religious ethics, where moral codes were often derived from religious scriptures and divine interventions. Philosophers like Thomas Aquinas sought to reconcile reason with faith. The Renaissance and Enlightenment periods championed human reason, leading to secular ethical theories. Thinkers like Immanuel Kant, Jeremy Bentham, and John Stuart Mill introduced deontological and utilitarian perspectives, respectively. Fast-forwarding to the contemporary era, we’re in an age that grapples with challenges birthed by rapid technological advancements, sociopolitical changes, and a globalized world, each demanding nuanced ethical considerations.

Diverse Areas of Study within Ethics Ethics now sprawls across various disciplines, each reflecting the pressing concerns of the age. Medical ethics, for instance, navigates the intricate maze of patient rights, bioengineering, and health equity. Business ethics is centered around corporate governance, sustainability, consumer rights, and corporate social responsibilities. Environmental ethics is a testimony to our growing realization of Earth’s fragility, prompting discourses on conservation, animal rights, and sustainable development. These subdivisions elucidate the vastness and depth of the ethical universe, emphasizing its applicability in multifarious sectors.

Relevance in Today’s Interconnected World Today, the tapestry of global interconnectivity has heightened the importance of ethical considerations. Information dissemination is rapid; societies are interwoven in complex ways, where a decision in one corner of the world can reverberate globally. This hyperconnected ecosystem underscores the pivotal role of ethics, be it in global trade, international diplomacy, technological advancements, or individual behavioral patterns.

Case Studies Illustrating Depth and Breadth of Ethical Inquiries :

  • The Trolley Problem : Delving beyond its elementary rendition, it spawns intricate debates on individual vs. collective good, direct vs. indirect harm, and the essence of moral decisions.
  • Facebook-Cambridge Analytica Scandal : This case becomes a lens to inspect broader issues: the sanctity of individual data, the ethics of persuasion, and the overarching responsibilities of digital behemoths.
  • Fast Fashion Dilemmas : Beyond the immediate issues of labor rights and sustainability, it beckons discussions on consumerism, cultural commodification, and the ethics of globalization.
  • Gene Editing and CRISPR : A groundbreaking technology that calls into question the ethics of playing ‘God’, altering genetic codes, potential misuse, and the overarching implications for humanity’s evolution.
  • Refugee Crisis : An intersection of geopolitical maneuvers, human rights, nationalism vs. globalism, and the ethical responsibilities of nations and individuals.

The Global Impact of Ethics Research Ethical research isn’t a mere academic endeavor; its ramifications ripple through the global fabric. Policies, laws, international treaties, corporate strategies, and even grassroots movements are often anchored in rigorous ethical discussions. For instance, international climate accords are informed by environmental ethics, dictating the shared responsibilities of nations. Similarly, discussions on data privacy regulations are imbued with digital ethics, reflecting the collective consensus on individual rights in the digital age.

Conclusion Stressed on the Limitless Possibilities of Research in Ethics Ethics, with its expansive history and multifaceted nature, continues to be a beacon, illuminating the intricacies of human actions and intentions. The extensive array of “ethics research paper topics” is testament to its sprawling scope, touching upon nearly every facet of human existence. As we stand at the precipice of monumental global changes, the canvas of ethical research beckons scholars, students, and thinkers to engage, question, and sculpt the moral landscape of the future. With every ethical inquiry, we edge closer to understanding the complexities of the human psyche, societal constructs, and the broader universe, unveiling limitless possibilities.

How to Choose Ethics Research Paper Topics

Embarking on a scholarly voyage begins with a crucial decision – choosing the right topic. In the vast domain of academic research, the topic serves as the foundation stone, shaping the trajectory of the entire study. Especially when navigating the intricate waters of “ethics research paper topics,” this choice is paramount. A judiciously chosen topic can serve as a mirror, reflecting societal concerns, personal beliefs, and scholarly gaps, ensuring the research not only informs but also inspires.

  • Align with Personal Interest : Your passion becomes the heartbeat of your research. When selecting among various ethics research paper topics, gravitate towards those that genuinely intrigue you. An authentic interest will sustain your enthusiasm throughout the research process, making challenges more surmountable and discoveries more exhilarating. Remember, when you’re invested emotionally and intellectually, your writing exudes a palpable fervor that resonates with readers.
  • Consider Societal Relevance : The rapidly changing societal landscape constantly births new ethical dilemmas. Aim for topics that are at the forefront of current debates, as they will be both timely and impactful. Such topics will also allow you to contribute constructively to real-world discussions, ensuring your research isn’t just an academic exercise but a tool for societal introspection.
  • Assess Available Resources : Before finalizing a topic, gauge the availability of research materials. Whether it’s online databases, libraries, or expert interviews, a robust collection of resources will be instrumental. A topic with abundant scholarly materials offers a richer backdrop against which you can position your arguments.
  • Seek Feedback : Engage in preliminary discussions about potential topics with peers, mentors, or professionals in the ethics arena. Their feedback can offer fresh perspectives, highlight overlooked challenges, and even introduce you to invaluable resources. This collaborative approach can fine-tune your choice, ensuring it’s well-rounded and robust.
  • Evaluate Scope : In the vast ocean of ethics research paper topics, it’s easy to either drown in overly broad topics or find oneself restricted in extremely niche areas. A well-defined scope ensures your research remains focused yet comprehensive. Consider drafting preliminary research questions to test the waters; if you find them too vast or too constrained, it might be time to recalibrate.
  • Anticipate Challenges : Each topic brings its unique set of challenges. From counterarguments and controversial perspectives to gaps in existing literature, anticipating these hurdles equips you for a smoother research journey. Strategizing in advance can help mitigate potential roadblocks, ensuring your research remains on track.
  • Cross-disciplinary Potential : Some of the most enriching ethics research paper topics are those that straddle multiple disciplines. Consider topics that interweave ethics with fields like technology, biology, sociology, or law. Such intersections can offer multifaceted insights, elevate your research’s depth, and cater to a more diverse readership.
  • Originality Counts : While established topics offer the comfort of abundant resources, there’s undeniable merit in exploring uncharted territories. Whether it’s introducing a novel perspective to a known issue or probing a relatively untouched area, originality can significantly elevate your research’s value.
  • Ethical Implications : Being in the realm of ethics, it’s paramount to introspect on the moral ramifications of your chosen topic. Will it spark meaningful discourse? Will it challenge established beliefs or reinforce them? Ensure that your topic is not just analytically sound but also ethically potent.
  • Future Potential : A hallmark of impactful research is its potential to birth further studies. As you sift through ethics research paper topics, reflect on their prospective contributions. Can your topic pave the way for subsequent research? Can it evolve with changing societal dynamics? A topic with longevity ensures your research remains relevant beyond its immediate publication.

The odyssey of crafting a research paper is both challenging and rewarding, with the initial choice of topic setting the stage for what follows. While there’s a myriad of “ethics research paper topics” to delve into, ensuring alignment with personal interest, societal relevance, and scholarly depth can transform your research from mundane to monumental. As budding scholars, harnessing the power of a well-chosen topic is the first step in leaving an indelible imprint in the annals of academic and societal discourse.

How to Write an Ethics Research Paper

Writing an ethics research paper is an intricate blend of philosophy, societal observations, and rigorous academic inquiry. Unlike many other disciplines where facts and figures predominantly steer the content, ethics brings in the added layer of moral scrutiny and philosophical debate. Thus, crafting a paper in this domain demands not only academic rigor but also a thoughtful understanding of the ever-evolving moral compass of society.

  • Start with a Strong Thesis : The thesis is the linchpin of your research, offering readers a concise insight into your central argument. Given the philosophical nature of ethics, it’s paramount to ensure that your thesis is both precise and thought-provoking. It should be a reflection of your stance while being open to interrogation.
  • Ensure Unbiased Representation : Ethical discussions often tread on contentious grounds. While you’ll have your perspective, it’s crucial to present all sides of an argument fairly. This ensures the paper doesn’t become a personal opinion piece but stands as an unbiased academic exploration.
  • Incorporate Varied Philosophical Perspectives : Ethics has been debated for millennia, with various philosophical theories emerging over time. Draw from these diverse traditions – be it utilitarianism, deontological ethics, virtue ethics, or others – to enrich your paper’s theoretical foundation.
  • Engage with Contemporary Issues : While ethical principles might be timeless, their applications evolve with societal changes. Anchor your paper in contemporary scenarios, drawing parallels or distinctions between age-old principles and modern-day dilemmas.
  • Prioritize Depth Over Breadth : Given the vast expanse of ethical debates, it’s tempting to touch upon multiple issues. However, a focused deep dive into one specific issue often yields more scholarly rewards than a superficial sweep across several.
  • Cite Reliable Sources : Establish the credibility of your arguments by leaning on reputable sources. Whether you’re quoting ancient philosophers or referencing modern ethicists, ensure your sources are authoritative and relevant.
  • Interact with Counterarguments : A well-rounded ethics research paper doesn’t shy away from counterarguments. Instead, it actively engages with them, dissecting their logic and either refuting or integrating their insights. This not only strengthens your primary argument but also showcases a holistic understanding of the topic.
  • Maintain a Logical Flow : The nature of ethical discussions can be abstract. Hence, maintaining a clear and logical flow in your paper is vital. Each section should seamlessly lead to the next, with clear transitions ensuring the reader remains engaged and oriented throughout.
  • Seek Peer Reviews : Given the subjective nature of ethics, obtaining feedback from peers or mentors can be invaluable. They might offer alternative interpretations, point out potential biases, or suggest additional resources to bolster your arguments.
  • Conclude with Future Implications : Round off your paper by discussing the potential implications of your findings. How might they influence future ethical debates, policy decisions, or societal behaviors? This not only adds relevance to your research but also underscores its significance in the broader ethical discourse.

Embarking on the journey of writing an ethics research paper is a commendable endeavor. It’s a pursuit that demands meticulous research, unbiased representation, and deep philosophical introspection. While the path might be laden with challenges, the rewards – in the form of enriched understandings, ignited debates, and potential societal impacts – are profound. As scholars delving into the realm of ethics, let’s strive to craft papers that not only dissect ethical quandaries but also illuminate paths towards a more reflective and just society.

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How to Write an Ethics Paper: Guide & Ethical Essay Examples

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An ethics essay is a type of academic writing that explores ethical issues and dilemmas. Students should evaluates them in terms of moral principles and values. The purpose of an ethics essay is to examine the moral implications of a particular issue, and provide a reasoned argument in support of an ethical perspective.

Writing an essay about ethics is a tough task for most students. The process involves creating an outline to guide your arguments about a topic and planning your ideas to convince the reader of your feelings about a difficult issue. If you still need assistance putting together your thoughts in composing a good paper, you have come to the right place. We have provided a series of steps and tips to show how you can achieve success in writing. This guide will tell you how to write an ethics paper using ethical essay examples to understand every step it takes to be proficient. In case you don’t have time for writing, get in touch with our professional essay writers for hire . Our experts work hard to supply students with excellent essays.

What Is an Ethics Essay?

An ethics essay uses moral theories to build arguments on an issue. You describe a controversial problem and examine it to determine how it affects individuals or society. Ethics papers analyze arguments on both sides of a possible dilemma, focusing on right and wrong. The analysis gained can be used to solve real-life cases. Before embarking on writing an ethical essay, keep in mind that most individuals follow moral principles. From a social context perspective, these rules define how a human behaves or acts towards another. Therefore, your theme essay on ethics needs to demonstrate how a person feels about these moral principles. More specifically, your task is to show how significant that issue is and discuss if you value or discredit it.

Purpose of an Essay on Ethics

The primary purpose of an ethics essay is to initiate an argument on a moral issue using reasoning and critical evidence. Instead of providing general information about a problem, you present solid arguments about how you view the moral concern and how it affects you or society. When writing an ethical paper, you demonstrate philosophical competence, using appropriate moral perspectives and principles.

Things to Write an Essay About Ethics On

Before you start to write ethics essays, consider a topic you can easily address. In most cases, an ethical issues essay analyzes right and wrong. This includes discussing ethics and morals and how they contribute to the right behaviors. You can also talk about work ethic, code of conduct, and how employees promote or disregard the need for change. However, you can explore other areas by asking yourself what ethics mean to you. Think about how a recent game you watched with friends started a controversial argument. Or maybe a newspaper that highlighted a story you felt was misunderstood or blown out of proportion. This way, you can come up with an excellent topic that resonates with your personal ethics and beliefs.

Ethics Paper Outline

Sometimes, you will be asked to submit an outline before writing an ethics paper. Creating an outline for an ethics paper is an essential step in creating a good essay. You can use it to arrange your points and supporting evidence before writing. It also helps organize your thoughts, enabling you to fill any gaps in your ideas. The outline for an essay should contain short and numbered sentences to cover the format and outline. Each section is structured to enable you to plan your work and include all sources in writing an ethics paper. An ethics essay outline is as follows:

  • Background information
  • Thesis statement
  • Restate thesis statement
  • Summarize key points
  • Final thoughts on the topic

Using this outline will improve clarity and focus throughout your writing process.

Ethical Essay Structure

Ethics essays are similar to other essays based on their format, outline, and structure. An ethical essay should have a well-defined introduction, body, and conclusion section as its structure. When planning your ideas, make sure that the introduction and conclusion are around 20 percent of the paper, leaving the rest to the body. We will take a detailed look at what each part entails and give examples that are going to help you understand them better.  Refer to our essay structure examples to find a fitting way of organizing your writing.

Ethics Paper Introduction

An ethics essay introduction gives a synopsis of your main argument. One step on how to write an introduction for an ethics paper is telling about the topic and describing its background information. This paragraph should be brief and straight to the point. It informs readers what your position is on that issue. Start with an essay hook to generate interest from your audience. It can be a question you will address or a misunderstanding that leads up to your main argument. You can also add more perspectives to be discussed; this will inform readers on what to expect in the paper.

Ethics Essay Introduction Example

You can find many ethics essay introduction examples on the internet. In this guide, we have written an excellent extract to demonstrate how it should be structured. As you read, examine how it begins with a hook and then provides background information on an issue. 

Imagine living in a world where people only lie, and honesty is becoming a scarce commodity. Indeed, modern society is facing this reality as truth and deception can no longer be separated. Technology has facilitated a quick transmission of voluminous information, whereas it's hard separating facts from opinions.

In this example, the first sentence of the introduction makes a claim or uses a question to hook the reader.

Ethics Essay Thesis Statement

An ethics paper must contain a thesis statement in the first paragraph. Learning how to write a thesis statement for an ethics paper is necessary as readers often look at it to gauge whether the essay is worth their time.

When you deviate away from the thesis, your whole paper loses meaning. In ethics essays, your thesis statement is a roadmap in writing, stressing your position on the problem and giving reasons for taking that stance. It should focus on a specific element of the issue being discussed. When writing a thesis statement, ensure that you can easily make arguments for or against its stance.

Ethical Paper Thesis Example

Look at this example of an ethics paper thesis statement and examine how well it has been written to state a position and provide reasons for doing so:

The moral implications of dishonesty are far-reaching as they undermine trust, integrity, and other foundations of society, damaging personal and professional relationships. 

The above thesis statement example is clear and concise, indicating that this paper will highlight the effects of dishonesty in society. Moreover, it focuses on aspects of personal and professional relationships.

Ethics Essay Body

The body section is the heart of an ethics paper as it presents the author's main points. In an ethical essay, each body paragraph has several elements that should explain your main idea. These include:

  • A topic sentence that is precise and reiterates your stance on the issue.
  • Evidence supporting it.
  • Examples that illustrate your argument.
  • A thorough analysis showing how the evidence and examples relate to that issue.
  • A transition sentence that connects one paragraph to another with the help of essay transitions .

When you write an ethics essay, adding relevant examples strengthens your main point and makes it easy for others to understand and comprehend your argument. 

Body Paragraph for Ethics Paper Example

A good body paragraph must have a well-defined topic sentence that makes a claim and includes evidence and examples to support it. Look at part of an example of ethics essay body paragraph below and see how its idea has been developed:

Honesty is an essential component of professional integrity. In many fields, trust and credibility are crucial for professionals to build relationships and success. For example, a doctor who is dishonest about a potential side effect of a medication is not only acting unethically but also putting the health and well-being of their patients at risk. Similarly, a dishonest businessman could achieve short-term benefits but will lose their client’s trust.

Ethics Essay Conclusion

A concluding paragraph shares the summary and overview of the author's main arguments. Many students need clarification on what should be included in the essay conclusion and how best to get a reader's attention. When writing an ethics paper conclusion, consider the following:

  • Restate the thesis statement to emphasize your position.
  • Summarize its main points and evidence.
  • Final thoughts on the issue and any other considerations.

You can also reflect on the topic or acknowledge any possible challenges or questions that have not been answered. A closing statement should present a call to action on the problem based on your position.

Sample Ethics Paper Conclusion

The conclusion paragraph restates the thesis statement and summarizes the arguments presented in that paper. The sample conclusion for an ethical essay example below demonstrates how you should write a concluding statement.  

In conclusion, the implications of dishonesty and the importance of honesty in our lives cannot be overstated. Honesty builds solid relationships, effective communication, and better decision-making. This essay has explored how dishonesty impacts people and that we should value honesty. We hope this essay will help readers assess their behavior and work towards being more honest in their lives.

In the above extract, the writer gives final thoughts on the topic, urging readers to adopt honest behavior.

How to Write an Ethics Paper?

As you learn how to write an ethics essay, it is not advised to immediately choose a topic and begin writing. When you follow this method, you will get stuck or fail to present concrete ideas. A good writer understands the importance of planning. As a fact, you should organize your work and ensure it captures key elements that shed more light on your arguments. Hence, following the essay structure and creating an outline to guide your writing process is the best approach. In the following segment, we have highlighted step-by-step techniques on how to write a good ethics paper.

1. Pick a Topic

Before writing ethical papers, brainstorm to find ideal topics that can be easily debated. For starters, make a list, then select a title that presents a moral issue that may be explained and addressed from opposing sides. Make sure you choose one that interests you. Here are a few ideas to help you search for topics:

  • Review current trends affecting people.
  • Think about your personal experiences.
  • Study different moral theories and principles.
  • Examine classical moral dilemmas.

Once you find a suitable topic and are ready, start to write your ethics essay, conduct preliminary research, and ascertain that there are enough sources to support it.

2. Conduct In-Depth Research

Once you choose a topic for your essay, the next step is gathering sufficient information about it. Conducting in-depth research entails looking through scholarly journals to find credible material. Ensure you note down all sources you found helpful to assist you on how to write your ethics paper. Use the following steps to help you conduct your research:

  • Clearly state and define a problem you want to discuss.
  • This will guide your research process.
  • Develop keywords that match the topic.
  • Begin searching from a wide perspective. This will allow you to collect more information, then narrow it down by using the identified words above.

3. Develop an Ethics Essay Outline

An outline will ease up your writing process when developing an ethic essay. As you develop a paper on ethics, jot down factual ideas that will build your paragraphs for each section. Include the following steps in your process:

  • Review the topic and information gathered to write a thesis statement.
  • Identify the main arguments you want to discuss and include their evidence.
  • Group them into sections, each presenting a new idea that supports the thesis.
  • Write an outline.
  • Review and refine it.

Examples can also be included to support your main arguments. The structure should be sequential, coherent, and with a good flow from beginning to end. When you follow all steps, you can create an engaging and organized outline that will help you write a good essay.

4. Write an Ethics Essay

Once you have selected a topic, conducted research, and outlined your main points, you can begin writing an essay . Ensure you adhere to the ethics paper format you have chosen. Start an ethics paper with an overview of your topic to capture the readers' attention. Build upon your paper by avoiding ambiguous arguments and using the outline to help you write your essay on ethics. Finish the introduction paragraph with a thesis statement that explains your main position.  Expand on your thesis statement in all essay paragraphs. Each paragraph should start with a topic sentence and provide evidence plus an example to solidify your argument, strengthen the main point, and let readers see the reasoning behind your stance. Finally, conclude the essay by restating your thesis statement and summarizing all key ideas. Your conclusion should engage the reader, posing questions or urging them to reflect on the issue and how it will impact them.

5. Proofread Your Ethics Essay

Proofreading your essay is the last step as you countercheck any grammatical or structural errors in your essay. When writing your ethic paper, typical mistakes you could encounter include the following:

  • Spelling errors: e.g., there, they’re, their.
  • Homophone words: such as new vs. knew.
  • Inconsistencies: like mixing British and American words, e.g., color vs. color.
  • Formatting issues: e.g., double spacing, different font types.

While proofreading your ethical issue essay, read it aloud to detect lexical errors or ambiguous phrases that distort its meaning. Verify your information and ensure it is relevant and up-to-date. You can ask your fellow student to read the essay and give feedback on its structure and quality.

Ethics Essay Examples

Writing an essay is challenging without the right steps. There are so many ethics paper examples on the internet, however, we have provided a list of free ethics essay examples below that are well-structured and have a solid argument to help you write your paper. Click on them and see how each writing step has been integrated. Ethics essay example 1

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Ethics essay example 2

Ethics essay example 3

Ethics essay example 4

College ethics essay example 5

Ethics Essay Writing Tips

When writing papers on ethics, here are several tips to help you complete an excellent essay:

  • Choose a narrow topic and avoid broad subjects, as it is easy to cover the topic in detail.
  • Ensure you have background information. A good understanding of a topic can make it easy to apply all necessary moral theories and principles in writing your paper.
  • State your position clearly. It is important to be sure about your stance as it will allow you to draft your arguments accordingly.
  • When writing ethics essays, be mindful of your audience. Provide arguments that they can understand.
  • Integrate solid examples into your essay. Morality can be hard to understand; therefore, using them will help a reader grasp these concepts.

Bottom Line on Writing an Ethics Paper

Creating this essay is a common exercise in academics that allows students to build critical skills. When you begin writing, state your stance on an issue and provide arguments to support your position. This guide gives information on how to write an ethics essay as well as examples of ethics papers. Remember to follow these points in your writing:

  • Create an outline highlighting your main points.
  • Write an effective introduction and provide background information on an issue.
  • Include a thesis statement.
  • Develop concrete arguments and their counterarguments, and use examples.
  • Sum up all your key points in your conclusion and restate your thesis statement.

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627 Ethics Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

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People make ethical choices every day, even when they do not realize it. Ethics is a debatable topic that covers many aspects of our daily life.

Ethics essays can help students to understand ethical dilemmas and problems better. Although writing an ethics essay can be challenging, we are always here to help!

Start with choosing an issue you want to discuss in the paper. Some good ethics essay topics and examples we can suggest are:

  • The aspects of utilitarianism as an ethical theory
  • Ethical dilemmas in the field of healthcare
  • Theories that explain human behavior
  • The significance of the personal code of ethics
  • Should euthanasia/abortion/personal use of drugs be legal?
  • Is morality related to society or culture?
  • Are there moral obligations all individuals should follow?

Remember that you can discuss other ethics essay questions and topics too. Choose one of the titles that seem most relevant to you. Now you are ready to start working on your paper. Here are ten tips that will help you to write an outstanding essay:

  • Research the issue you have selected thoroughly. You should gain an excellent understanding of its aspects, causes, and consequences. Try to rely on credible sources (such as peer-reviewed articles) only.
  • If you are not sure that the selected problem is relevant, find an ethics essay example online. This step can also help you to analyze your ethics essay structure and see whether you should make some changes.
  • Develop a good outline for your essay. Include an introductory section, several body paragraphs (at least three, if possible), and a summary or a conclusion. Note that an argumentative essay should include a refutation section too.
  • Introduce your thesis statement clearly. Your reader should understand the main argument of your essay.
  • Discuss all significant aspects related to ethics. Provide a definition of this term and examples of ethical dilemmas that may arise. It can make your paper more engaging to your audience.
  • Avoid overly complex sentences. Your essay should look professional but be easy-to-read. Remember that in general, sentences should not be longer than 35 words.
  • Discuss your perspectives on ethical issues you are presenting. State your opinion and include the recommendations you would provide. If you have relevant experiences or know people who have faced ethical dilemmas, discuss them in your paper.
  • Remember that the last paragraph of the essay is important. You need to present your thesis statement once again, along with the main arguments of your work. Discuss the findings of your study and make a conclusion.
  • Support your claims with evidence. Include in-text citations whenever you are referring to someone else’s work. At the same time, your paper should not include information from outside sources only. Add comments to each of the facts you are presenting.
  • Check the paper several times before sending it to your professor. You need to make sure that there are no grammatical mistakes. Pay attention to the sentence structure too. An important tip would be to put your essay away for several days and revise your ideas later with “fresh” eyes. Do not hesitate to ask your peers for help in revising your essay too.

Remember to check out essay samples on our website. They are free!

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  • Importance of Ethics in Business The manager of the North American company has a difficult task because in as much as the decision taken by the company depends on him, he wants to please both parties, that is, the client […]
  • Ethics of Divorce: Deontology and Utilitarianism Before analyzing the ethics of divorce, the paper first introduces the subject of ethics followed by the theme of divorce in the contemporary societal settings.
  • Ethics as a Theme in Frankenstein by Mary Shelley From the novel, it is evident that humans drove the monster into a state of madness when they subjected it to hatred and rejection, and thus the monster’s madness emerged due to the treatment it […]
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  • Teleological vs. Deontological Ethics They are meta-ethics, deontological ethics, hedonism, normative ethics, teleological ethics, and many others The present paper is aimed at describing teleological and deontological ethics as well as the differences between them.
  • Ethical Analysis of the Sermon on the Mount – Matthew Chapters 5-7 The Sermon on the Mount refers to a portion of the Bible that contains some of the things that Jesus said and the lessons that He taught to his disciples.
  • The Ethical Issues of the Mattel Toy Scandal The reasons for the considerable recalls of products were that the toys manufactured on the facilities based in China were dangerous for children’s health due to the lead paint discovered in the toys and the […]
  • Business Ethics of the H&M Company Additionally, all employees should have a written contract in their local language provided to them by H&M, and they should be aware of the terms and conditions.
  • Ford Pinto’s Fuel System Redesign and Ethics However, the core of the decisions that the head management of Ford Motor Company had to make to resolve the key issues go far beyond the concept of cost-benefit analysis.
  • Apple’s Ethical Challenges Regarding Labor Practices Despite the fact that this aspect violates Apple’s principles of ethical supply chains, which prohibit the use of child labor, the company continued to cooperate with the supplier for another three years.
  • Ethical Dilemma of Child Abuse In the above example, a nurse has to apply rational judgment to analyze the extent and threats when making decisions in the best interest of the victim of child abuse.
  • Media Ethics and Principles of Media Companies The ethics of the media becomes necessary in order to address the above issues. The issue of “media ethics” seeks to promote the best standards in the industry.
  • Ethical Dilemma as Witnessed in the Cassavetes’ Film “My Sister’s Keeper” Organ transplants require the voluntary participation of donors and the society at large in donating the vital organs from living or deceased members of the society.
  • Ethical Analysis of the Movie “Liar, Liar” The story described in the movie is one of egoism and a self centered person who will resort to anything just to win the case.
  • The Philosophical Approaches to Ethics The main point of the argument is that philosophical approaches to business ethics provide guidelines for making ethical business decisions, but some of these approaches are controversial and have no support from most moral scholars.
  • Adelphia Communications Scandal and Ethical Issues This is because of the huge sums of money involved, and the suspicious arrangement the Rigas family made with the company that required the company and the Rigas family to be guarantors of each other.
  • “Ethical Dilemmas and Decisions in Criminal Justice” by Pollock If hunting is the primary means of survival of a particular society, the euthanasia of the elderly and the sick can be deemed acceptable.
  • The Ford Pinto Case and Ethical Dilemma Lee Iacocca, the Ford company’s president, was accused of disregarding the need to improve the safety of Pinto cars due to the increased cost.
  • Musk and Tesla: A Strong Code of Corporate Ethics? These guidelines consider the ideas, norms, laws, and business regulations that govern how individuals act within the institution and how the firm operates in the community.
  • Three Ethical Lenses on Human Trafficking As a result of the issue’s illegality, a deontologist will always observe the law and, as a result, will avoid or work to eradicate human trafficking.
  • The Mechanical Engineering Ethics Understanding Ethics refers to a set of values and principles that guide the conduct of members of a profession. Shared responsibility is a quality that enables one to work in a manner that promotes cooperation.
  • Max Weber – The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism Max Weber in his book the protestant ethic and the spirit of capitalism sought to explain the emergence of the modern capitalism and the origin of the modern secular and industrial society.
  • Laws and ethics Since the law must be obeyed, it becomes enforceable and that is why institutions such as the police and the judiciary have a duty of enforcing the law.
  • My Sister’s Keeper: Ethical and Legal Issues When Sara is informed by Campbell that her daughter had the right to reject the kidney donation surgery, Sara argues that Anna was too young to decide for herself and that she was going to […]
  • Analysis of the Differences Between Laws and Ethics Ethics tells people what they ought to do and in what ways. In conclusion, law and ethics are similar because they aim to promote order and cohesion in society.
  • What is an ethical choice? Once all these steps are followed and one is still uncertain if they will be making an ethical choice, then one would rather opt for the alternative that will turn out the majority good for […]
  • Public Administration Ethical Dilemma and Theories Smith should take the responsibility of ensuring that the needs of the majority are upheld since the welfare of the community, and the organization is of importance.
  • Family Therapy: Ethical Dilemmas One of the ethical dilemmas in the case is that of deciding whether or not to disclose the information about Breen’s relationship with her boyfriend to her parents.
  • Ethical Leadership: Martin Luther King All individuals were expected to consider his actions and embrace the idea of morality. Through the use of a positive community culture and empowerment tactics, King managed to model such desirable behaviors.
  • Ethical Dilemma: Example, Problem, and Solution Secondly, I was supposed to show other employees that no one is above the policies of this company and if anyone commits a mistake the individual must be punished.
  • Ethics and Safety in Nursing Informatics It is suggested that, first of all, nurses need to inform patients about the type of the accumulated data that may be disclosed and with whom it can be shared prior the beginning of the […]
  • Early Childhood Education Center’s Ethical Dilemma Therefore, it is necessary to involve different people in the discussion of this case because there are several ethical responsibilities applied to a new child, the children of the class, the staff, parents, and the […]
  • Ethics in Social Research: Peculiarities of the Genie Case and the Milgram Experiment The main idea of the experiment consists in the physical and even moral injury of the object. The consent of the experiment was not informed.
  • Ethical Dilemmas in Counselling and Treatment Methods The case of Brett has become an ethical issue based on the following; questions are revolving around what information can be released to the parents and parents request to review the diagnosis since no procedure […]
  • Legal and Ethical Responsibilities of Physical Therapists In the recent past, as a result of the increased autonomy of physical therapists in executing their duties, there has been an increase in the number of ethical and legal responsibilities of individuals in this […]
  • The Concept of Ethics in Groups Understanding group dynamics plays a crucial role in increasing the level of success in a group. Second, group members should conduct themselves in a manner that promotes the values and interests of their group.
  • Tesco Company Business Ethics: Deontology and Teleology However, it is the policy of the company to consider the effect that the product will have on the people or customers rather than considering the financial gain that the company will derive from such […]
  • Workplace Ethical Issues Essay Harassment of the co-workers or clients is one of the major workplace ethical issues that involve violation of the employers’ workplace ethics policy.
  • Dealing With Ethical Issues in the Workplace In the second case, the initial perception of the manager as to the applicant’s personality is that of a qualified, mature and sociable person.
  • Smartphone-Related Cognitive and Ethical Issues The remarkable rise of smartphones and the rapid adoption of mobile computing are two of the most important developments in contemporary information and communication technology.
  • The Concept of Environmental Ethics Environmental ethics is concerned with the ethical relationship of human beings with the environment. Human beings must relate ethically with all other living organisms.
  • Business & Legal Issues: Ford Pinto To be more precise, the Ford Pinto case will be evaluated from the legal point of view to establish which laws were violated in the process of corporate decision-making that led to the production of […]
  • What is the Importance of Ethics When it Comes to Governance? This form of governance depends on curtailing the freedom of the ruled in order to maximize the power of the rulers.
  • Ethical Considerations in Decision-Making This means that the leader should listen to the other team members and more so give them more power in decision making.
  • Ethics Types, Differences, Applications To be more particular about the two types above of ethics, virtue ethics can be defined as the type of ethics that “focuses on the character traits and nonobligatory ideas that facilitate the development of […]
  • Nestlé’s Ethical Issues in Developing Countries In this case, the ethical elements of the operations pose questions about the motives of such corporations, which results in displeasure to the greatest majority.
  • Ethical issues in the Digital Age Since the music is copyrighted, it is also against the law to download and distribute it. This leads to the question regarding the inherent value of using the social networking sites when the repercussions are […]
  • Key Ethical Issues in Retailing and Distribution As Barnett et al.observed empirically, there are several self-evident dimensions to ethical consumerism which players in retail and distribution function should comprehensively be aware of, for these dimensions may act in an organized and collective […]
  • Ethical Issues Surrounding Intellectual Property Rights The owner of the copyright in spite of the absence of necessity to provide the copyright notice on the work is the only person who can determine the ways of possible usage of the work.
  • Samsung Company’s Quality Issue and Kantian Ethics Focusing on the distribution of the Samsung Galaxy Note 7, it can be stated that the company wanted to sell its product and to obtain profit, failing to ensure that its phone had already been […]
  • Role of Ethics in Advertising When proper ethics are applied in advertising, there is a certainty that public morality and the progress socially will not be gravely endangered in any way through the misuse of the media services.
  • The Volkswagen Scandal: Ethical & Unethical Choices Indeed, seeing that Volkswagen has jeopardized both the safety and the health of the global community by allowing the production and purchase of air-polluting cars, it is expected that the levels of trust between the […]
  • Volkswagen Company’s Emissions Fraud: Ethical Issues The scandal, otherwise known as the VW emissions fraud, occurred when the EPA carried out a series of tests on VW vehicles and discovered that the cars were not in compliance with emission regulations established […]
  • Sex Shop Opening in Germany: Legal and Ethical Issues The government in Germany intervened in the prostitution and drug sector immediately after the increasing number of cases of women trafficking and kidnapping in different parts of Germany.
  • Pornography: Breaching Ethical Standards However, before delving into the details surrounding this argument, it is important to understand the ethical issues and breaches of pornography.
  • Wal-Mart’s Ethical Issues This paper forms an analysis of the ethical issues raised against or for Wal-Mart Corporation and the potential outcomes of some of the negative or conflicting views about the firm.
  • Ethical Subjectivism and Emotivism in Society The challenge is that they are unable to account for the use of moral reason as a driver behind an emotive statement.
  • Immanuel Kant Ethics Kant argues that, “a person is good or bad depending on the motivation of their actions and not on the goodness of the consequences of those actions”.
  • Ethics of Politics of Social Research This is followed by describing the political aspects focusing on the possible deviations in the procedure of the research due to the influence of personal and political beliefs of the researcher.
  • Ethical Issues With the Stanford Prison Experiment – Essay Nowadays, modern psychologists are expected to adhere to a strict and rigid code of ethical principles in order to ensure the validity of their practices and the safety of the patients and participants.
  • Apple Corporation Social and Ethical Responsibility The paper will further discuss the methods Apple can utilize to make sure its standards on wage and benefits are adhered to, determine the impacts of increased prices of goods on customer purchasing behavior, and […]
  • Ethics in the Business Research It is, therefore, extremely essential for the researcher to assess the weight of every research issue in order to determine how best to approach the whole research process without causing harm to any one.
  • Kant’s Ethical Theory of Deontology in Nursing Kant advanced two approaches of categorical imperative; first, the maxim of an individual’s action should be universal; and second, a person should treat another with dignity, not as means to reach personal objectives. Also, section […]
  • Public Administration: The Ethical Challenges This case study of craftsmanship inspects the ethical implication of integrating the same principles of cultivating virtue and embracing collective values.
  • Ethical Theories and Nepotism Relationships Relating to the ethical theory of ethics of justice to nepotism, it should be mentioned that justice is considered to be fair on the basis of various human considerations.
  • Pornography and Ethics This paper is going to assess the extent to what extent is the definition of pornography qualified to be used, and if pornography is ethical in modern society.
  • Differential Aptitude Test and Ethical Principles According to the representatives of the psychological organizations and committees, “the psychometric qualities of the DAT are rated highest” among all the tests invented for the evaluation of the cognitive abilities in both children and […]
  • Does Possession of Knowledge Carry an Ethical Responsibility? Ethical responsibility imposed on the power authorities is ignored and, therefore, people are unaware of the consequences of their reforms and actions.
  • Wall Street (1987): Ethics Analysis As anticipated, Gekko takes Bud in and offers him a big opportunity to make good money; however, Bud has to play the game according to rules.
  • Ethical and Legal Considerations in Quantitative Research The proposed research question is appropriate to be used in the study the aim of which is to find out how the students’ interest in playing computer and video games can predict their achievement at […]
  • Ethical Dilemmas in Social Workers’ Practice In order to resolve the emerging dilemma, it is necessary to identify the involved stakeholders, model two possible courses of events, evaluate the implications of each and come to a conclusion regarding the preferential option […]
  • Cultural Clash in the Board Room: An Ethical Dilemma Among Top Management in Almond China The first option he has is to resign from the company because he says that one of the reasons that motivated him to join the company is the values and standards the company up holds.
  • The Ethics of Critique Thus, the philosophers’ concept of human freedom and equality as the highest value is the ground for to struggle for human rights. As a result, showing care and concern contributes to the spread of moral […]
  • Benefits and Dangers of Ethical Hacking The advantages of ethical hacking The following are some of the advantages associated with the use of ethical hacking in an organization.
  • Legal and Ethical Issues in Sports It is also important to take into account the health problems of athletes caused by doping and address them on a case-by-case basis.
  • Ethical Issues in the Novel “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley The paper looks at the ethical issues that the author highlights in her paper, such as the promotion of artificial life to help in the development of the discussions of this paper. Victor Frankenstein is […]
  • Business Ethics: Is It Profitable? Business ethics is a set of professional ethics that tries to inspect ethical problem or the principles of ethics that can emerge in a business organization. Implementation of ethics in a business organization increases costs […]
  • Ethics in Advertising and Its Importance Therefore, the following essay describes why ethics in advertising is an issue that requires increased attention, the types of advertising, and the benefits of advertising.
  • Nestlé Ethics and Social Responsibility The research in the sphere of Nestle’s ethics shows that the company has lots of low-rated ethical criteria to be accused of.
  • ASCA Ethical Standards for School Counselors Second, school counselors should ensure and conform to the standards of confidentiality, including appropriate disclosure of information. The fifth aspect is counselors’ mandate to ensure they do not have relationships that are likely to compromise […]
  • Ethical Dilemma in Nursing Case Study Today, being a nurse is associated with a number of complexities due to the need to comply with diverse obligations in social, political, and healthcare segments.
  • Scientists’ Moral Responsibility and Ethics Decades ago, it was the duty of policymakers, scholars, and the general public to deal with the effects of new knowledge while the scientists primarily conducted research. Therefore, the scientists have a responsibility to their […]
  • Reflection of Ethical Self-Assessment I am good at managing my efforts on the way of ethical improvement and ethical conduct, I strive to achieve compliance with the accepted ethical model and I am already able to move further from […]
  • NSPE Code of Ethics vs. Other Engineering Codes Essay Similarities between NSPE code of ethics and AiChE Engineers should use their skills to ensure health, welfare and safety of the public as provided by the first principle. The goal is to enhance health and […]
  • Consequentialist, Deontological, and Virtue Ethics: Ethical Theories Ethical principles are rooted in the ethical theories, and ethicists, when trying to explain a particular action, usually refer to the principles, rather than theories.
  • Law Ethics: Something Rotten in Hondo Lastly, the most morally right thing to do is to provide a scenario where employees are not exposed to health hazards and risks by virtue of their engagement with Adnak.
  • Conservation and Preservation Ethics Therefore, man is a manager of the environment in conservation while the environment itself is its manager in preservation ethics. The challenge with preservation and conservation ethics is that these points of view tend to […]
  • Ethics and corporate governance Likewise, corporate governance is the process in which corporate boards administer the operation of an organization by its managers, and the way the board members are held answerable to the organization and shareholders.
  • Richard Angelo: A Serial Killer and His Ethical Dilemma The convicted claimed he made the injections to cause crises to be able to revive patients and become a hero in front of his colleagues.
  • Jaguar Land Rover Business Strategy and Ethics This study evaluates the internal and external environments using different tools and techniques, including the PEST and four corners models to study the impact of CSR in line with the Jaguar Land Rover business strategy.
  • Key Issues Concerning Computer Security, Ethics, and Privacy The issues facing computer use such as defense, ethics, and privacy continue to rise with the advent of extra ways of information exchange.
  • Ethical Dilemma: Counselors Engaging in Relations with Clients They should keep a boundary in the way they relate to the clients to ensure that their relationship with the client does no harm or pose potential harm to the clients.
  • Ethical Issues in the “Unthinkable” Film However, the crescendo of the interrogation is reached when the nuclear explosions are about to occur, and the interrogator threatens the victim’s family in a bid to stop the explosion by locating the bombs; the […]
  • Invention of Light Bulbs by Davy: Ethical Issues This was a pivotal moment when Humphrey picked up an interest in the field of electrochemistry in the year 1808 because it led to discovery of the most famous invention in his life which was […]
  • Ethical Implications of Implementing Religion or Spirituality Into Therapy The third consideration related to the ethics of therapy provided for Christian people is the need to include their religious values in the process of planning their treatment.
  • Ethics in Cyber Age Therefore, ethics in cyber age is the breakdown of the environment and social impact of cyber space or computer technology along with the resultant development and validation of policies regarding ethical use of the information […]
  • Code of Ethics in the Hospitality Industry The culture of hotel employees’ behavior includes all the aspects of personal external and internal culture, namely, the rules of behavior and the ability to express oneself correctly and to observe speech etiquette.
  • Ethical Issues in Mass Communication and Advertising The following are some of the primary ethical issues that mass communication and advertising need to observe in modern society where media plays a crucial role in shaping public opinion.
  • Ethics in Financial Management It should however, be noted that despite the benefits, a number of companies have failed in the past simply because of ethics related issues.
  • Ethics and Abortion In weighing the options concerning whether to perform an abortion and how to care for the patient, a healthcare entity must consider the legal implications, the patient’s and provider’s beliefs as well as the health […]
  • Ethics and Civics of the Patriots in the 18th Century The statement mentioned in the Declaration of Independence about the necessity for people to dissolve their political bands and be equal within the frames of the Laws of Nature proved the grievance of the patriots.
  • Samsung’s Ethical Dilemma of Child Labor The paper will critically analyze the ethical dimensions of the dilemma from the perspective of the utilitarian ethical theory. It will be argued that according to the fundamental principles of the theory, the company’s behavior […]
  • Lockheed Corporation’s Ethical Decision-Making During the same period, Lockheed recorded numerous losses due to the changes experienced in the market. The leaders in the firm also continued to pay bribes to different government officials.
  • Nursing Code of Ethics The nurses in all the aforementioned positions and context, performs with respect and compassion for the innate distinctness, worth, and dignity of each person, without any regard for his or her social or financial status, […]
  • Ethical Issues Associated With Psychological Testing The second case along the line of psychological testing includes the case of Brown V. Reason The above case was used to examine the validity of psychological testing.
  • Ethical Approaches in the Retail Clothing Industry Clothing industries have adopted ethical and sustainable fashion, which maximizes the benefits to industry and society and minimizes the negative impact on the environment.
  • Corey’s Ethical Decision-Making Model Application The goal is to determine if the company has violated human rights and evaluate the possibility for the client to fight for his rights with the organization. One of the courses of action is to […]
  • Christian Ethics Issues and Abortion As for the rights and interests of the mother, when comparing them with the rights and interests of the child, there is a possibility of an axiological preference for the goods of the latter.
  • Engineering Ethics of Chernobyl and the Three Mile Island Despite the significant efforts of the responders to the Chernobyl accident, its consequences included the creation of the exclusion zone, people’s deaths, and worsening of the population’s health.
  • Dante’s Ethical System in His Divine Comedy Dante uses the perception of God on sin to depict his personal perception of punishment and the structures he envisions hell to have.
  • Medical Ethics in Radiography The engineering and paternal model is not applicable in modern medicine since the patient must consent to any procedure. It shows the guidelines and principles that radiographers must stick to in order to provide quality […]
  • Ethical Dilemma: The Missing Needle Protector Health care professionals and patients have to develop a level of trust to support the recovery process for patients and the status of the hospital.
  • Clinical Laboratories’ Legal and Ethical Issues The clinical laboratory operations within a given country are driven by a set of ethical conduct, which the researchers and laboratory technicians are expected to observe. In managing the laboratory activities, there is a need […]
  • Seven-Step Process for Ethical Decision-Making However, based on the decision I made I was required to discuss the matter with other stakeholders who could have accused me of being biased in the selection and decision-making process.
  • Ethical and Social Responsibility Toward Environment The environment is exposed to many types of issues due to human activity that harm it, this paper identifies these issues, the ethical and social responsibility that man has towards the environment and highlights the […]
  • Business Ethics Differences Around the World As such, its developments will be used to explain parts of the analysis and to put the different cultures discussed in this essay into the same framework.
  • Microsoft Corporation’s Ethical Perspectives A global organization like Microsoft has both ethical and social responsibility issues it has to deal with in the course of its operations. According to Microsoft, employee diversity is a good indication of the company’s […]
  • Roles of Ethics in Psychological Research Risk analysis on the intended research activity is necessary to weigh the total benefits and risks of the proposed study to the subjects in terms of privacy and nurturing the reputation psychology as a profession.
  • Information Technology Code of Ethics & Responsibilities According to the social contract theory, the government has the obligation of ensuring the security of individual and organizational information by instituting laws on the protection of their privacy.
  • Surrogacy and Its Ethical Implications on Nursing In simpler terms, it is the carrying of a pregnancy by a woman who is not the biological mother of the child.
  • Journalism: Media Law and Ethics Exploring the dynamics of media, journalists are the link between the legal authorities and the greater society. And this is against the dynamics of journalism.
  • Integrity in Organizational Culture and Ethical Theories To create a value-driven culture of integrity, it would be useful to consider Kantian ethics and virtue ethics as the two primary ethical theories.
  • Ethics of Airlines’ Extra Charge for Obese People In this regard, he would not have supported the imposition of an extra charge for obese people. This proposal aligns with the principle of equality because it would be unfair to other passengers if obese […]
  • Cooper’s Ethical Decision-Making Model: Corcoran State Prison According to Rigg and Caruso, the actions of the fellow prison guards were unwarranted and amounts to unethical behavior as well as contrary to the mission and values of the California Department of Corrections and […]
  • Facing Ethical Issues as a Software Engineer Applying the Kantian theory of ethics the software engineer will have to inform the stakeholders including the investors of the company and the clients that there will be a delay in the launching of the […]
  • Death Penalty and Ethics The arguments for the capital punishment as explained earlier are also extremely weak and the practice of death penalty is morally wrong.
  • Ethics of Informed Consent in DNA Research The ethical issue that is the focus of the current study is the use of patient DNA for research by a company without their knowledge and consent.
  • Ethical Responsibilities in Social Work It leaves a negative mark on the reputation of the company in which the fraud was committed and, in the long term, on the social sphere as a whole.
  • Fifteen Ethical Principles of the Universal Declaration on Bioethics
  • Selling Pets and Pets’ Products: The Ethical Considerations Raised.
  • Personal Values and Beliefs in Ethical Issues
  • Ford Motor Company Ethical Strategies and Policies
  • Ethics in Group Counseling
  • Ethical Dilemmas Facing Teachers
  • The Ethical Decision-Making (EDM) Model Principles
  • Bayview University’s College: Ethical Behavior of Business Students
  • Cardillo Travel Systems Inc.’s Ethical Practice
  • Ethical Issues in Interior Design
  • Ethics of Digital Manipulation
  • Ethical Issues Faced By Multi-National Companies Operating In Less Developed Countries
  • Business Ethics and Child Labour
  • Ethics of Data Misuse in Urban Planning
  • Ethics: Should Batman Kill the Joker?
  • Eastern Ethics and Natural Law
  • Perioperative Practitioners: Ethical, Professional, and Legal Issues
  • “The Devil Wears Prada”: Morality and Ethics
  • The Unilever Global Company’s Business Ethics
  • Corporate Social Responsibility at the Tesco PLC
  • The Role of Ethics in “Gone Baby Gone”
  • Abortion: An Ethical Dilemma and Legal Position
  • Ethics in Nursing: The Most Important Ethical Principles
  • The Ethics of Using Old Examination to Study
  • Google and Ethics
  • Ethical Decision Making and Sustainable Development
  • The Coca-Cola Company Struggles With Ethical Crisis
  • Ethical and Unethical Leadership in Healthcare
  • Business Ethics: Reflective Essay
  • Digital Communication Laws and Ethics
  • Violation of Basic Ethical Principles in the Tuskegee Syphilis Study
  • Nonmaleficence as Ethical Principle in Healthcare
  • Ethics in Mass Media Regarding Pepsi’s Commercial
  • Ethics of Nepotism in Business
  • History of Ethical Principles in Psychology
  • Ethical Systems in the “Sophie’s Choice” Movie
  • Accounting Ethical Issues in New Zealand
  • Nursing Ethical Principles Application
  • Ethical Dilemmas in Healthcare Institutions
  • Quebec Bridge Collapse and Ethical Issues
  • Abortion and Virtue Ethics
  • Ethics in Computer Technology: Cybercrimes
  • Cooper’s Ethical Decision-Making Model
  • Ethical and Illegal Computer Hacking
  • Ethical Organization: Starbucks Case
  • Ethical Issues in Road Construction
  • Ethics of Decision-Making in Social Work
  • Ethics Unwrapped: Apple Suppliers & Labor Practices
  • Leah Curtin’s Classic Model in Nursing Ethics
  • Ethical Issues in Terri Schiavo Case
  • Ethical Dilemma With the Bank Teller
  • Code of Ethics in Education
  • Professionalism and Ethics in Public Administration
  • Coke and Pepsi in India: Issues, Ethics, and Management
  • Patients’ Spiritual Needs and Ethical Principles
  • Engineering Ethics and Legal Standards
  • Ethics and Professional Behavior in Criminal Justice
  • Enron Management Practices’ Ethical Principles
  • Cultural Differences and Ethics of International Trading
  • Ethical Theories and Ethical Business Practices
  • Nike From an Ethical Perspective
  • Examining “The Golden Rule” and Virtue Ethics
  • Child Labour: Ethical Aspects of Employment
  • Ethical and Social Responsibility Issues in IHRM
  • Kitsch – under the Title of Taste and Ethics
  • Value and Ethics in Organizations
  • Ethical Hedonism: The Principles of Morals and Legislation
  • Apple Inc.’s Mission, Vision, and Code of Ethics
  • Ethics in Product Safety of Takata Corporation
  • Medication Errors: Ethical & Legal Implications
  • Ethical Failure in the Pulpit: Impact on the Church, Congregation, and Community
  • Fast Fashion and Ethical Consumption
  • Business Law and Ethics: Carlill v Carbolic Smoke Ball
  • Ethics in Public Administration
  • Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment and Ethical Principles
  • Zodiac Movie: Crime, Media Reporting and Ethics
  • Nestle Company’s Child Labor and Business Ethics
  • H&M Company Ethical Culture Analysis
  • Abu Dhabi National Oil Company Ethical Consideration
  • Business Ethics Theories From a Practical Perspective
  • Power and Ethics in Organizations
  • Vodafone Company and Ethical Principles
  • Ethical Principles in the Movie The Firm
  • Virtue and Stoic Ethics in Criminal Justice
  • Ethics of Group vs. Individual Practice Compared
  • Ethics of Discovery in Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein”
  • Ethics of Unproven Drugs and Issues
  • Analysis of Ethical Issues in Accounting
  • Action-Based Ethics Criticism
  • Ethical Issues in Criminology and Criminal Justice Research
  • KPMG Corporation’s Auditing & Ethical Issues
  • The Four Steps Leading to Ethical Behavior
  • King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al-Saud’s Responsible Leadership and Ethics
  • The Acme Title Pawn Employee’s Ethical Dilemma
  • Volkswagen Emissions Scandal From Ethical Viewpoint
  • Ethics and Whistleblowing: Moral Quandaries
  • Business Ethics Theories and Values
  • Arranged Marriage and Its Ethical Dilemma
  • Facebook: Web Page’ Ethical Statement
  • Economy and Ethics in the Inside a Job Documentary
  • Yahoo Company’s Ethical Issues in China
  • Legal and Ethical Implications for Classroom Management
  • Ethical Implications of Data Mining by Government Institutions
  • Ethical Issue: Whistleblowing
  • Starbuck’s Ethical Relationship with Stakeholders
  • Ethical Dimensions into Tourism Policy and Management
  • Can Advertising to Children be Ethical?
  • Organizational Culture and Business Ethics
  • The Ethical Issues in Financial Management
  • Resolving Ethical Issues in the Workplace: Utilitarianism and Kantian Ethics
  • The Ethics of the Union Carbide Disaster in India
  • Medical Ethics – The Four Pillars Explained
  • The Wells Fargo Firm’s Ethical Case Analysis
  • Utilitarianism: Ethical Theory in Healthcare
  • Spirituality and Ethics: Christian Perspective and Postmodern Relativism
  • Act Utilitarianism and Virtue Ethics: Pros and Cons
  • Ethical Dilemmas: An Analysis of Two Cases
  • The American College of Healthcare Executives Code of Ethics
  • “Eight Theories of Ethics: Egoism” by Graham
  • Ethical Dilemmas Surrounding Self-Driving Cars
  • Ethics and Morality in Health Profession
  • Using Food Preservatives Ethical
  • The Ethical Issues in the Sports Medicine
  • Ethical Dilemma in Journalism
  • Ethical Obligations of System Administrators
  • Business Ethics: Can a Corporation Have a Conscience?
  • Ethical Issues Surrounding Terri Schiavo
  • Egoism and Altruism as Ethical Theories
  • Ethics of Online Education
  • The Ethical Issues of Genetic Engineering
  • Immanuel Kant’s – Duty Theory of Ethics
  • Ethical Issues in Psychology
  • Consumer Behaviour in Relation to Ethical Marketing
  • Ethical Concept in “Blood Diamonds” Film by Edward Zwick
  • Ethics by Linda Pasten
  • Ethical Issues With Performance Enhancing Drugs in Professional Sports
  • Kant’s Ethics: Objection to Lying
  • The Connections between the MEAA Code of Ethics and Three Philosophical Traditions
  • Environmental Ethics: Land Ethic and the Platform of Deep Ecology
  • Sexual Abuse in the Workplace as an Ethical Issue
  • Business Ethics: Triple Bottom Line
  • New Belgium Brewing: Ethical and Environmental Responsibility
  • Ethical Principles in Photojournalism
  • Ethical Committee in Healthcare Presentation
  • Ethical Dilemma of Patient Care Delivery
  • Kant’s Duty-Based Ethics at the Workplace
  • Ethical Issue: Public Corruption
  • The Theory of Ethical Egoism and Utilitarianism
  • Ethical Issues of the Information Age
  • Ethical Principles in Case of Belmont Report
  • Counseling Intervention Ethical Concerns
  • The Blue Nile Company’s Ethical Issue
  • Ethical Philosophy: The Case Studies
  • Theories of Ethics: Virtue, Teleological and Deontological Theory
  • Four Principles of Medical Ethics
  • Ethical Reasoning: Dominant and Alternative Approaches
  • The Ethical Obligation for Nurses in Making a DNR Decision
  • Ethical Issues and Values in Accounting
  • Criminal Justice Ethics of Traffic Police Officers
  • Pros, Cons and Ethics of “Stop and Frisk” Law
  • An Ethical Dilemma – Religious Belief Versus Medical Practice
  • Engineering Ethics in the Organizations
  • McDonald’s Ethics in Super-Size Me Documentary
  • Biodiversity Hotspots and Environmental Ethics
  • Wells Fargo Banking Scandal: Ethical Analysis
  • ANA Code of Ethics and Care Management and Coordination in Nursing
  • Joe Smith and Bill Bateman: Ethical Dilemma Analysis
  • Ethics and Decision-Making in Public Safety
  • “The Ethics of Belief” by William K. Clifford
  • Ethical Issues: Occidental Engineering Company
  • Business Ethics in John Q. and Wall Street Movies
  • Ethical Dilemma & Glyphosate: Post Foods Company
  • Counseling Ethics in Tarasoff vs. Regents Case
  • Ethical Behavior as to Returned Food and Beverages
  • Ethics in “The Clockwork Orange” Film by Kubrick
  • Social and Ethical Responsibility: Martin Shkreli Scandal
  • Ergonomics in Job and Workplace Design
  • Normative Methods in Healthcare Ethics
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Home — Blog — Topic Ideas — 200 Ethical Topics & Questions to Debate in Essay

200 Ethical Topics & Questions to Debate in Essay

ethical topics

Ethical topics and questions are essential for stimulating thoughtful discussions and deepening our understanding of complex moral landscapes. Ethics, the study of what is right and wrong, underpins many aspects of human life and societal functioning. Whether you're crafting an essay or preparing for a debate, delving into ethical issues allows you to explore various perspectives and develop critical thinking skills.

Ethical issues encompass a wide range of dilemmas and conflicts where individuals or societies must choose between competing moral principles. Understanding what are ethical issues involves recognizing situations that challenge our values, behaviors, and decisions. This article provides a thorough guide to ethical topics, offering insights into current ethical issues, and presenting a detailed list of questions and topics to inspire your writing and debates.

Ethical Issues Definition

Ethical issues refer to situations where a decision, action, or policy conflicts with ethical principles or societal norms. These dilemmas often involve a choice between competing values or interests, such as fairness vs. efficiency, privacy vs. security, or individual rights vs. collective good. Ethical issues arise in various fields, including medicine, business, technology, and the environment. They challenge individuals and organizations to consider the moral implications of their actions and to seek solutions that align with ethical standards. Understanding ethical issues requires an analysis of both the potential benefits and the moral costs associated with different courses of action.

⭐ Top 10 Ethical Topics [2024]

  • Climate Change Responsibility
  • Data Privacy in the Digital Age
  • Genetic Engineering
  • Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide
  • Corporate Social Responsibility
  • AI and Automation
  • Animal Rights
  • Freedom of Speech vs. Hate Speech
  • Healthcare Accessibility
  • Human Rights in the Age of Globalization

Ethics Essay Writing Guide

Writing an ethics essay involves more than just presenting facts; it requires a thoughtful analysis of moral principles and their application to real-world scenarios. Understanding ethical topics and what constitutes ethical issues is essential for crafting a compelling essay. Here’s a guide to help you address current ethical issues effectively:

  • Choose a Clear Topic: Select an ethical issue that is both interesting and relevant. Understanding the definition of ethical issues will help you narrow down your choices.
  • Research Thoroughly: Gather information from credible sources to support your arguments. Knowing what ethical issues are and how they are defined can provide a solid foundation for your research.
  • Present Multiple Perspectives: Show an understanding of different viewpoints on the issue. This will demonstrate your grasp of the complexity of current ethical issues.
  • Use Real-world Examples: Illustrate your points with concrete examples. This not only strengthens your arguments but also helps to explain ethical topics in a relatable way.
  • Structure Your Essay: Organize your essay with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. A well-structured essay makes it easier to present your analysis of ethical issues.
  • Provide a Balanced Argument: Weigh the pros and cons to offer a well-rounded discussion. Addressing various aspects of current ethical issues will make your essay more comprehensive.
  • Conclude Thoughtfully: Summarize your findings and reflect on the broader implications of the issue. This is where you can discuss the impact of ethical issues on society and future considerations.

By following this guide, you will be able to write an ethics essay that not only presents facts but also offers a deep and nuanced analysis of ethical topics.

Selecting the Right Research Topic in Ethics

Choosing the right research topic in ethics can be challenging, but it is crucial for writing an engaging and insightful essay. Here are some tips:

  • Relevance: Ensure the topic is relevant to current societal issues.
  • Interest: Pick a topic that genuinely interests you.
  • Scope: Choose a topic with enough scope for research and debate.
  • Complexity: Aim for a topic that is complex enough to allow for in-depth analysis.
  • Availability of Sources: Make sure there are enough resources available to support your research.

What Style Should an Ethics Essay Be Written In?

When writing an ethics essay, it is essential to adopt a formal and objective style. Clarity and conciseness are paramount, as the essay should avoid unnecessary jargon and overly complex sentences that might obscure the main points. Maintaining objectivity is crucial; presenting arguments without bias ensures that the discussion remains balanced and fair. Proper citations are vital to give credit to sources and uphold academic integrity.

Engaging the reader through a logical flow of ideas is important, as it helps sustain interest and facilitates a better understanding of the ethical topics being discussed. Additionally, the essay should be persuasive, making compelling arguments supported by evidence to effectively convey the analysis of moral issues. By following these guidelines, the essay will not only be informative but also impactful in its examination of ethical dilemmas.

List of Current Ethical Issues

  • The impact of social media on privacy.
  • Ethical considerations in genetic cloning.
  • Balancing national security with individual rights.
  • Privacy concerns in the digital age.
  • The ethics of biohacking.
  • Ethical considerations in space exploration.
  • The ethics of surveillance and data collection by governments and corporations.
  • Ethical issues in the use of facial recognition technology.
  • The ethical implications of autonomous vehicles.
  • The morality of animal testing in scientific research.
  • Ethical concerns in the gig economy.
  • The impact of climate change on ethical business practices.
  • The ethics of consumer data usage by companies.
  • Ethical dilemmas in end-of-life care and assisted suicide.
  • The role of ethics in the development of renewable energy sources.

Ethical Issues in Psychology

  • Confidentiality vs. duty to warn in therapy.
  • Ethical dilemmas in psychological research.
  • The use of placebo in psychological treatment.
  • Ethical issues in the treatment of vulnerable populations.
  • The ethics of involuntary commitment and treatment.
  • Dual relationships and conflicts of interest in therapy.
  • The use of deception in psychological experiments.
  • The ethics of cognitive enhancement drugs.
  • Ethical considerations in online therapy and telepsychology.
  • Cultural competence and ethical practice in psychology.
  • The ethics of forensic psychology and assessment.
  • The impact of social media on mental health and ethical practice.
  • The use of emerging technologies in psychological treatment.
  • Ethical issues in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders.
  • The role of ethics in psychological testing and assessment.

Ethical Debate Topics

  • Is capital punishment morally justified?
  • Should organ donation be mandatory?
  • The ethics of artificial intelligence in warfare.
  • Is euthanasia ethically permissible?
  • Should human cloning be allowed?
  • The morality of animal rights vs. human benefit.
  • Is it ethical to use animals for entertainment?
  • Should there be limits on free speech?
  • The ethics of genetic modification in humans.
  • Is it ethical to have mandatory vaccinations?
  • The morality of government surveillance programs.
  • Should assisted reproductive technologies be regulated?
  • The ethics of using performance-enhancing drugs in sports.
  • Should healthcare be considered a human right?
  • The ethical implications of wealth inequality and redistribution.

Medical Ethics Topics

  • Ariel Case Study: a Comprehensive Analysis
  • The Case for and Against Daylight Saving Time
  • Technological Advancements in Medical, Educational & Other Fields
  • The Language of Medicine
  • Medical Ethics: Beneficence and Non-maleficence
  • Overview of What Sonography is
  • The Use of Steroids and HGH in Sports
  • Media and The Scientific Community Treat People Like Tools
  • Informative Speech for Organ Donation
  • Medicine in Our World
  • The Origin of Medical Terminology
  • Preserving Sight: My Journey to Becoming an Optometrist
  • Case of Dr. Eric Poehlman's Ethical Violation
  • Should The NHS Treat Patients with Self-Inflicted Illnesses
  • My Education as a Medical Technologist

Ethics Essay Topics on Business

  • Ethics Report on Panasonic Corporation
  • Case Study on The ACS Code of Morals
  • Differences in Business Ethics Among East Asian Countries
  • Business Ethics in Sports
  • Business Ethics in Different Countries, and Its Importance
  • Selfless Service and Its Impact on Social Change
  • Challenges in Doing Business Across The Border
  • The Importance of Ethics in Advertising
  • Ethical Issues that Businesses Face
  • Profitability of Business Ethics
  • The Law and Morality in Business
  • How Ethnic Variances Effect Worldwide Business
  • The Ethical Practices in The Business Sector in the Modern Economy
  • Key Responsibilities and Code of Ethics in Engineering Profession
  • Analysis of The Code of Ethics in Walmart

Ethics Essay Topics on Environment

  • Understanding The Importance of Keeping Animals Safe
  • The Importance of Treating Animals with Respect
  • CWU and The Issue of Chimpanzee Captivity
  • The Process of Suicidal Reproduction in the Animal World
  • Analysis of The Egg Industry to Understand The Causes of The High Prices in Eggs
  • The Dangers of Zoos
  • Importance for Animals to Be Free from Harm by Humans
  • Should Animals Be Killed for The Benefit of Humans
  • Reasons Why Genetic Engineering Should Be Banned
  • What I Learned in Ethics Class: Environmental Ethics
  • Nanotechnology and Environment
  • Review of The Environmental Protection Act
  • How The Idea of Preservation of Nature Can Benefit from Environmental Ethics
  • The Relation and Controversy Between American Diet and Environmental Ethics
  • Green Technology

Work Ethics Essay Topics

  • The impact of workplace surveillance on employee privacy.
  • Ethical considerations in remote work.
  • Discrimination in the workplace.
  • An Examination of Addiction to Work in The Protestant Work Ethic
  • The Work Ethic of The Millennials
  • My Understanding of The Proper Environment in the Workplace
  • Social Responsibility & Ethics Management Program in Business
  • The Maternity Benefits Act, 1961
  • The Issue of Stealing in The Workplace
  • Chinese Work Management and Business Identity
  • Ethical Issues of Using Social Media at the Workplace
  • The Teleological Ethical Theories
  • Learning Journal on Ethical Conflicts, Environmental Issues, and Social Responsibilities
  • Social Media at Workplace: Ethics and Influence
  • Ethical Issue of Employees Stealing and Whistleblowing

Ethics Essay Topics on Philosophy

  • A Critical Analysis of Ethical Dilemmas in Education and Beyond
  • Overview of What an Ethical Dilemma is
  • The Implications of Exculpatory Language
  • Ethical Dilemmas in End-of-life Decision Making
  • What I Learned in Ethics Class: Integrating Ethics in Aviation
  • Doing What is Right is not Always Popular: Philosophy of Ethics
  • An Analysis of Public Trust and Corporate Ethics
  • Ethical Concerns of Beauty Pageants
  • Simone De Beauvoir’s Contribution to Philosophy and Ethics
  • The Impact on Decision-making and Life Choices
  • Importance and Improvement of Personal Ethics
  • Personal Ethics and Integrity in Our Life
  • Analysis of The Philosophical Concept of Virtue Ethics
  • Understanding Moral Action
  • How to Become a Gentleman
  • A Call for Emphasis on Private Morality and Virtue Teaching
  • A Positive Spin on Ethical Marketing in The Gambling Industry
  • An Overview of The Ethical Dilemma in a Personal Case
  • Bioethical Principles and Professional Responsibilities
  • Ethical Considerations in Counseling Adolescents
  • Ethical Dilemma in College Life
  • Ethical Theories: Deontology and Utilitarianism
  • Issues of Fraud, Ethics, and Regulation in Healthcare
  • Navigating Ethical Dimensions in Education
  • The Ethical Landscape of Advanced Technology
  • Research Paper on The Ethical Issue of Publishing The Pentagon Papers
  • The Trolley Problem: an Ethical Dilemma
  • Analysis of "To The Bitter End" Case Study
  • Ethical Theories: Virtue and Utilitarian Ethics
  • Feminist Ethics: Deconstructing Gender and Morality
  • Is Deadpool a Hero Research Paper
  • My Moral and Ethical Stance
  • The Concept of Ethics and The Pursuit of Happiness
  • The Ethics of Graphic Photojournalism
  • The Quintessence of Justice: a Critical Evaluation of Juror 11's Role
  • The Wolf of Wall Street: Ethics of Greed
  • The Importance of Ethics in Our Daily Life
  • Analysis of The Envy Emotion and My Emotional Norms
  • The Topic of Animal Rights in Relation to The Virtue Theory

Ethics Essay Topics on Science

  • The Cause of Cancer as Illustrated in a Bioethics Study
  • Bioethical Issues Related to Genetic Engineering
  • Ethical Issues in Stem Cell Research
  • The Role of Ethics Committees in Biomedical Research
  • The Legal and Bioethical Aspects of Personalised Medicine Based on Genetic Composition
  • The Ethics of Clinical Trials: Ensuring Informed Consent and Patient Safety
  • Ethical Challenges in Neuroethics: Brain Privacy and Cognitive Liberty
  • Gene Therapy: Ethical Dilemmas and Social Implications
  • Overview of Bioethics The Trigger of Contentious Moral Topics
  • The Progression of Bioethics and Its Importance
  • The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Medical Ethics
  • The Drawbacks of Free Healthcare: Economic, Quality, and Access Issues
  • Bioethical Issues in My Sister’s Keeper: Having Your Autonomy Taken to Save Your Sibling
  • The Ethics of Biotechnology in Agriculture: GMOs and Food Safety
  • Ethical Considerations in Organ Donation and Transplantation

List of Ethical Questions for Students

Exploring ethical topics is crucial for students to develop critical thinking and moral reasoning. Here is a comprehensive list of ethical questions for students to discuss and debate. These topics cover a wide range of issues, encouraging thoughtful discussion and deeper understanding.

Good Ethical Questions for Discussion

  • Is it ethical to eat meat?
  • Should parents have the right to genetically modify their children?
  • Is it ever acceptable to lie?
  • Should schools monitor students' social media activity?
  • Is it ethical to use animals in scientific research?
  • Should companies be allowed to patent human genes?
  • Is it right to impose cultural values on others?
  • Should the government regulate internet content?
  • Is it ethical to have designer babies?
  • Should wealthy countries help poorer nations?
  • Is it ethical to keep animals in zoos?
  • Should there be limits to freedom of speech?
  • Is it right to use artificial intelligence in decision-making?
  • Should we prioritize privacy over security?
  • Is it ethical to manipulate emotions through advertising?

Moral Questions to Debate

  • Is genetic modification in humans ethical?
  • Should vaccinations be mandatory?
  • Is government surveillance justified?
  • Is it ethical to use performance-enhancing drugs in sports?
  • Is wealth inequality morally acceptable?
  • Should education be free for everyone?
  • Is it ethical to allow autonomous robots to make life-and-death decisions?

Ethical topics and questions are a rich field for exploration and discussion. Examining these issues, we can better understand the moral principles that guide our actions and decisions. Whether you're writing an essay or preparing for a debate, this comprehensive list of ethical topics and questions will help you engage with complex moral dilemmas and develop your critical thinking skills.

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How to Write an Ethics Paper

Last Updated: May 16, 2023 Approved

This article was co-authored by Emily Listmann, MA . Emily Listmann is a Private Tutor and Life Coach in Santa Cruz, California. In 2018, she founded Mindful & Well, a natural healing and wellness coaching service. She has worked as a Social Studies Teacher, Curriculum Coordinator, and an SAT Prep Teacher. She received her MA in Education from the Stanford Graduate School of Education in 2014. Emily also received her Wellness Coach Certificate from Cornell University and completed the Mindfulness Training by Mindful Schools. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, 100% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 253,945 times.

Writing an ethics paper can present some unique challenges. For the most part, the paper will be written like any other essay or research paper, but there are some key differences. An ethics paper will generally require you to argue for a specific position rather than simply present an overview of an issue. Arguing this position will also involve presenting counterarguments and then refuting them. Finally, ensuring that your reasoning is valid and sound and citing the appropriate sources will allow you to write an ethics paper that will satisfy any critic.

Getting Started

Step 1 Make sure that you understand the assignment.

  • What is the main objective of the assignment?
  • What specific things do you need to do in order to get a good grade?
  • How much time will you need to complete the assignment?

Step 2 Choose a topic for your ethics paper.

  • For example, you might begin with a topic of "ethical problems of euthanasia." This is very broad, and so forms a good starting point.

Step 3 Narrow down your topic.

  • Remember, you may refine your topic even further after you have begun writing your paper. This is perfectly acceptable, and is part of the advantage of writing a paper in multiple drafts.

Step 4 Outline the relevant issues to your topic.

  • For example, you might include issues such as: "describing specifically what is meant by 'extreme, constant pain.' "Other issues might include, "the rights and responsibilities of physicians regarding euthanasia," and "voluntary versus involuntary euthanasia."
  • After making this list, group or order them in some way. For example, you might imagine yourself taking the position that euthanasia is acceptable in this circumstance, and you could order the issues based on how you would draw supporting evidence and build your claim.

Developing Your Thesis Statement

Step 1 Draft your thesis statement.

  • In your thesis, you should take a specific stand on the ethical issue. For example, you might write your thesis as follows: "Euthanasia is an immoral option even when patients are in constant, extreme pain."

Step 2 Remove ambiguous language to clarify your exact position.

  • For example, this thesis statement is ambiguous: "Patients should not undergo euthanasia even when suffering constant, extreme pain." With how it's worded, it's unclear whether you mean that euthanasia should be outlawed or that it is morally wrong.
  • Clarify your position to create a strong thesis: "Euthanasia is an immoral option even when patients are in constant, extreme pain."

Step 3 Make sure the focus of your thesis aligns with your intended focus for the paper.

  • For example, in the thesis, "It is immoral for patients to choose euthanasia even when suffering constant, extreme pain," the moral burden is on the patient's actions. The author of this thesis would need to make sure to focus on the patient in the essay and not to focus on the moral implications of the doctor's actions.
  • If the thesis you have written does not reflect what you want to argue in your paper, start over and draft a new thesis statement.

Conducting Research

Step 1 Select sources to research before writing your ethics paper.

  • Ask a librarian for help finding sources if you are not sure how to access your library’s databases.
  • A simple way to strengthen your argument through citations is by incorporating some relevant statistics. Simple statistics can have a major impact if presented after you've made a bold assertion. For instance, you may claim that the patient's family members would be unduly traumatized if the patient chose euthanasia, and then cite a university study that catalogued a majority of families reporting trauma or stress in this situation.
  • Another helpful citation is one in which the broad issue itself is discussed. For instance, you might cite a prominent ethicist's position on your issue to strengthen your position.

Step 2 Evaluate your sources.

  • The author and his or her credentials. Does the source provide the author’s first and last name and credentials (M.D., Ph.D, etc.)? Steer clear of sources without an author attached to them or that lack credentials when credentials seem crucial, such as in an article about a medical subject. [3] X Research source
  • Type of publication. Is the publication a book, journal, magazine, or website? Is the publisher an academic or educational institution? Does the publisher have a motive other than education? Who is the intended audience? Ask yourself these questions to determine if this source is reliable. For example, a university or government website might be reliable, but a site that sells items may be biased toward what they're selling.
  • Citations. How well has the author researched his or her topic? Check the author’s bibliography or works cited page. If the author has not provided any sources, then you may want to look for a different source. [4] X Research source
  • Bias. Has the author presented an objective, well-reasoned account of the topic? If the sources seems skewed towards one side of the argument, then it may not be a good choice. [5] X Research source
  • Publication date. Does this source present the most up to date information on the subject? If the sources is outdated, then try to find something more recent. [6] X Research source

Step 3 Read your research.

  • To check for comprehension after reading a source, try to summarize the source in your own words and generate a response to the author’s main argument. If you cannot do one or both of these things, then you may need to read the source again.
  • Creating notecards for your sources may also help you to organize your ideas. Write the citation for the source on the top of the notecard, then write a brief summary and response to the article in the lined area of the notecard. [7] X Research source

Step 4 Annotate...

  • Remember to indicate when you have quoted a source in your notes by putting it into quotation marks and including information about the source such as the author’s name, article or book title, and page number. [8] X Research source

Writing and Revising Your Ethics Paper

Step 1 Work from your outline.

  • To expand on your outline, write a couple of sentences describing and/or explaining each of the items in your outline. Include a relevant source for each item as well.

Step 2 Make sure that you include all of the key parts of an ethics paper.

  • Check your outline to see if you have covered each of these items in this order. If not, you will need to add a section and use your sources to help inform that section.

Step 3 Plan to write your ethics paper using several drafts.

  • In your first draft, focus on the quality of the argument, rather than the quality of the prose. If the argument is structured well and each conclusion is supported by your reasoning and by cited evidence, you will be able to focus on the writing itself on the second draft.
  • Unless major revisions are needed to your argument (for example, if you have decided to change your thesis statement), use the second draft to strengthen your writing. Focus on sentence lengths and structures, vocabulary, and other aspects of the prose itself.

Step 4 Give yourself a break before revising.

  • Try to allow yourself a few days or even a week to revise your paper before it is due. If you do not allow yourself enough time to revise, then you will be more prone to making simple mistakes and your grade may suffer as a result. [10] X Research source

Step 5 Consider your paper from multiple angles as your revise.

  • Does my paper fulfill the requirements of the assignment? How might it score according to the rubric provided by my instructor?
  • What is your main point? How might you clarify your main point?
  • Who is your audience? Have you considered their needs and expectations?
  • What is your purpose? Have you accomplished your purpose with this paper?
  • How effective is your evidence? How might your strengthen your evidence?
  • Does every part of your paper relate back to your thesis? How might you improve these connections?
  • Is anything confusing about your language or organization? How might your clarify your language or organization?
  • Have you made any errors with grammar, punctuation, or spelling? How can you correct these errors?
  • What might someone who disagrees with you say about your paper? How can you address these opposing arguments in your paper? [11] X Research source

Step 6 Read printed version of your final draft out loud.

  • As you read your paper out loud, highlight or circle any errors and revise as necessary before printing your final copy.

Community Q&A

Community Answer

  • If at all possible, have someone else read through your paper before submitting it. They can provide valuable feedback on style as well as catching grammatical errors. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 1

ethics term paper

Things You'll Need

  • Word-processing software
  • Access to your library’s databases
  • Pencil and highlighter

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  • ↑ https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/688/1/
  • ↑ https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/553/03/
  • ↑ http://guides.jwcc.edu/content.php?pid=65900&sid=538553
  • ↑ http://www.writing.utoronto.ca/advice/reading-and-researching/notes-from-research
  • ↑ https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/658/05/
  • ↑ https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/561/05/

About This Article

Emily Listmann, MA

To write an ethics paper, start by researching the issue you want to write about and evaluating your sources for potential bias and trustworthiness. Next, develop a thesis statement that takes a specific stand on the issue and create an outline that includes the key arguments. As you write, avoid using words like “could” or “might,” which will seem ambiguous to the reader. Once you’ve finished your paper, take a break for a few days so your mind is clear, then go back and revise what you wrote, focusing on the quality of your argument. For tips from our Education reviewer on how to annotate source material as you research, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Ethics Topics for Research Papers: 140+ Ideas

ethics topics

Derived from the Greek word “ethos,” meaning “way of living,” ethics is a branch of philosophy that involves well-founded standards of right and wrong, as well as just and unjust behaviors. By defining concepts such as right, wrong, vice, justice, and crime, ethics examines an individual’s behavior in society.

When writing an ethics research paper, the first step is to come up with an appropriate ethics topic. Framing a research project on ethics requires understanding essential principles like honesty, morals, and integrity, and demonstrating the findings needed to support your hypothesis. This fundamental research can be challenging for many students, particularly those who have chosen complex research topics. Therefore, the first step is brainstorming excellent ethical topics to transform this challenging process into a smooth journey.

With this in mind, we are here to help ease this burden. This blog post compiles over 140+ captivating ethics topics across various disciplines. Each of these topics will assist you in writing a persuasive research paper that will captivate your readers and impress your professors.

Table of Contents

Ethics Comes in a Variety of Forms

Over the centuries, different philosophers have proposed numerous ethical theories. Before diving into the ethical topics that we have categorized, it is crucial to understand the various types of ethics. Ethics can be broadly classified into four branches, as follows:

Descriptive ethics: This branch of ethics deals with the theory that explains the moral norms, attitudes, and practices that societies believe to be right or wrong. It examines how people actually behave and the moral standards they claim to follow.

Normative or prescriptive ethics: The study of “norms” or “principles” that determine what is morally right or wrong and accordingly holds individuals accountable. In simpler terms, this is the study of “ethical actions.” Deontological ethics, virtue ethics, consequentialism, and Nishkam Karmayoga are some examples of normative theories.

Meta-ethics: Meta-ethics studies the nature of ethics as a whole. This branch of ethics analyzes the foundations of our ethical principles and why we use them daily. It involves the investigation of the meaning and justification of moral claims, as well as the nature of moral values and properties.

Applied ethics: This is the most practical branch of ethics. Applied ethics involves the general principles that we apply in our daily lives. This branch deals with the philosophical examination, from a moral standpoint, of specific issues in various fields, such as medicine, business, and the environment.

Selecting the Right Research Topic in Ethics

To create an engaging research paper, the initial step is to select a high-quality research topic that will make your research stand out from the crowd. To score excellent grades, you must develop captivating ethics topics of your choice. Here are a few tips that will help you choose the best option among all the ethics paper topics:

  • When framing an ethical research paper, consider choosing a research topic with enough supporting facts, evidence, and details. Avoid any false or fabricated data, as it can ruin the credibility of your paper.
  • Select topics involving complex on-going issues or moral quandaries, as they would pique the interest of your professors. Look for topics that are occasionally covered by the media.
  • Try to write your research concisely, making it interesting, informative, and relevant. Overly long research is a major turnoff for readers.
  • Search for unsolved research paradigms that will allow you to include your opinions and arguments.
  • Engage in critical thinking on the best topics. Narrow down some of the best topics that spark your and your readers’ interests and will expand their knowledge.

Identifying the perfect topic that suits all your requirements can be challenging. You can use the tips mentioned above to identify the best topics that meet your needs. However, depending on individual students, this process can still be time-consuming. Instead of brainstorming for hours, delving into research, and writing lengthy research papers , you can seek professional assistance from our research paper writers.

140+ Ethics Topics for Research Papers

Crafting a research paper on ethics can be more challenging than it initially appears. This is because, while most people understand basic ethical values, their interpretations can vary significantly. Ethics is not just about black and white; it delves much deeper into the shades of grey. In this article, our experts from Edumagnate.com have provided you with an extensive list of ethics topics to help jumpstart your research paper. For a better understanding, we recommend reading through each list thoroughly.

Compelling Topics on Ethical Issues

Ethical dilemmas arise when individuals must evaluate whether their actions are morally right. Topics related to such dilemmas often explore complex questions, requiring one to defend their position convincingly. These ethical issues span various fields, including religion, psychology, and sociology. Consequently, incorporating perspectives from these disciplines can help create a unique and insightful research paper.

  • Ethical Codes for Sports Refereeing
  • Ethical issues in animal research
  • The ethical issues with euthanasia
  • Ethical Issues in Sports Administration
  • Legal Ethics in National and international businesses
  • Organizational Ethics and Individual Responsibility
  • Understanding sports ethics as a significant tool for accessing moral behavior in sports
  • The Ethical Challenges and Controversies of Healthcare Reform
  • The Challenge of Terri Schiavo from an ethical perspective
  • The Ethical Issues of Pharmaceutical Companies
  • Ethical Issues with Abortion
  • Sports ethics: use of drugs in sports competition
  • Healthcare systems and associated healthcare ethics
  • Ethical and cultural issues with group work
  • Political and socioeconomic issues amongst different nations
  • Religion and Ethics in healthcare provisions
  • Ethical Issues and Concerns of a professional sports person
  • The ethical side of Motorsports
  • The foundation of computer ethics

Since ethics is a branch of philosophy, students can also consider choosing philosophy research topics.

Social Media Business Ethics Topics

To make things easier, our experts have enumerated a list of the most interesting social media business ethics topics for you. These topics are thoroughly reviewed in depth to ensure optimum results for students. Check them out!

  • An Introduction to social media ethics
  • Is the notion of “controversial fit” on social media ethical?
  • Enhancing business performance on social media without eroding business ethics
  • The ethical judgment of consumers and controversial advertising avoidance on social media
  • Managing ethical responses on social media: effective guidance for business entrepreneurs
  • The ethical environment in online communities: information credibility from a social media standpoint
  • Employing big data in business organizations and business ethics
  • Social media business ethics: a view from the trenches
  • Corporate Firing for sharing questionable social media posts: a detailed analysis
  • What is the role of social media ethics in achieving responsible business?
  • The Influence of social media ethics on Enhancing the effective online presence of Businesses
  • The Influence of social media ethics in the ongoing industries
  • Social media ethics and Etiquette
  • The Impact of social media ethics on Businesses
  • The Ethical Issues of Colonizing Mars
  • Social media ethics and journalism: a detailed analysis
  • The ethical implications of social media: issues and recommendations for entrepreneurs

The Best Bio-Medical Ethics Topics

If you’re interested in bio-medical, then consider choosing a research topic from the following list of suggestions:

  • A detailed analysis of the relationship between medical ethics and religious beliefs
  • Medical Ethics in Asia versus Europe
  • Medical ethics: a detailed analysis
  • Ethical Issues in stem cell research and Therapy
  • The ethical issues and legal considerations with euthanasia
  • Ethical behavioral issues and Problems in Medicine
  • A detailed analysis for monitoring the application of idol ethics in medical fields
  • The ethical challenges and Considerations for practicing medicine overseas
  • Ethical Considerations for the Inclusion of pregnant women as research participants
  • How do medical ethics confront religious beliefs?
  • Bio-ethics versus medical ethics: a comparative analysis
  • Contemporary medical ethics: a research analysis of Iran
  • Ethical issues, including bioethics (conduct a case study)
  • Principles of bio-medical ethics
  • Human testing of drugs: is it ethical?
  • Debunking the Ethics of Neuroenhancement
  • The imperativeness of medical ethics
  • The perception of biomedical ethics
  • The Ethics of Development: an integral Approach

Read Also – Interesting biology research topics

Bioethics Research Paper Topics

Bioethics talks about topics related to health, life, genetics, neurology, and even plastic surgery. Research paper topics in bioethics are brilliant topics to write about. The following list is a compilation of 20 bioethics research paper topics that you can consider:

  • Ethical conflicts over disclosure and barring services
  • Bioethics: Why is philosophy essential for progress?
  • Contemporary Issues in Bioethics
  • A critical understanding of the ethical responsibilities associated with CRISPR
  • Bioethics and stem cell research
  • 5 strange and sinister medical procedures from History
  • Bioethics and political ideology: The case of active voluntary euthanasia
  • Availability of vaccines for everyone: an overview
  • The ethics of brain-boosting
  • Euthanasia: An Overview and the Jewish Perspective
  • The legal and ethical considerations of dealing with a brain-dead person
  • A descriptive analysis of Bioethics in Society
  • Ethics and genetic engineering—lessons to learn
  • Islam and bioethics: Beyond abortion and euthanasia
  • Exploring the ethical principles and Practice of plastic surgery
  • Pediatric neuroenhancement: ethical, legal, social, and neurodevelopmental implications
  • Bioethics, disability, and death: Uncovering cultural bias in the euthanasia debate
  • Secular Bioethics and Euthanasia in a democratic public space

Read Also – 200+ Science Research Topics

Medical Ethics Topics to Score Excellent Grades

The list of medical ethics topics below can assist you with some of these amazing medical ethics topics. For a better understanding, consider reading each topic among these recommendations:

  • Is physician-assisted suicide legal? Is it ethical?
  • The ethical and legal issues with surrogacy
  • The Ethical and Medical Implications of Circumcision
  • The Ethics of Surrogacy
  • The ethics of abortion: Is it ethically right?
  • Ethical and policy issues associated with uterine transplants
  • Ethical considerations associated with living donations: an overview
  • The Ethics of Condemned Prisoner Organ Donation
  • Ethical theories and laws associated with medical ethics
  • The Ethics of employing human embryos in genetic engineering research
  • Medical ethics dilemma: an overview
  • The ethical perspectives of the Nightingale pledge
  • The ethics of animal research
  • Current ethical issues and Challenges in Healthcare
  • Religion, beliefs, and medical ethics: an overview
  • Bioethics, human rights, and childbirth
  • Understanding Morality without ethics

Enthralling Computing Ethics Topics

Technological advancements have revolutionized all facets of human existence. Computer ethics encompass a collection of fundamental principles aimed at addressing concerns associated with the improper use of computers and outlining preventive measures. The list provided below features some of the most compelling ethical research topics in the realm of computer ethics.

  • Should ethics boards be required for IT companies?
  • Discussing the risks associated with keeping sensitive data online.
  • Is hacking a moral act?
  • Examine the ethical issues raised by artificial intelligence.
  • Exploring computer privacy-related problems and their solutions
  • The moral dilemmas associated with drone use
  • Evaluating the moral implications of internet users’ Anonymity
  • Ethical prevention of cyberbullying: What can be done for a permanent termination?
  • Sabotaging others’ computers: how is this ethically wrong?
  • Mapping the foundationalist debate in computer ethics
  • A method in computer ethics: Towards a multi-level interdisciplinary approach
  • Computer ethics: the significance of personal, formal, and informal codes
  • Gender and computer ethics
  • Reasons, relativity, and Responsibility in computer ethics
  • The Ethics of Computing: A Survey of the computing-oriented Literature
  • Computer Ethics and moral methodology
  • The ethics of online Anonymity or Zuckerberg vs.” Moot.”
  • Propose an educational plan for computer ethics and information security

Research Paper Topics in Sports Ethics

Sports ethics extend beyond mere behavior and thought processes, as they are fundamentally rooted in respect, fairness, integrity, and responsibility within the sports arena. Athletes often face dilemmas regarding what actions to take or avoid due to the ethical considerations in sports. Although this subject can be complex, a deep understanding allows for exceptional research on sports ethics. Here are some example topics:

  • Sports Ethics: An Anthology
  • Ethics in sports
  • Performance-enhancing drugs in sport: The ethical issue
  • The key components of sports ethics
  • The primary moral obligations of athletes
  • The imperativeness of ethics in sports
  • A detailed analysis of the ethical responsibilities of a sportsperson
  • Are professional sporting activities moral in today’s society?
  • The Paralympic Games and the Promotion of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
  • Athletes’ healthcare and ethical Concerns
  • Impact of ethical behavior outside the Pitch
  • The moral dimensions of Motorsports
  • Child exploitation to become elite athletes
  • Moral and ethical responsibilities of a sportsperson
  • How do people enter the world of professional sports, and what ethical issues do they face?
  • Alienation of sports from real life
  • How sports and games serve as the primary outlet for human ethics
  • Sports ethics and medicine
  • The unique ethics of sports medicine

Top-Notch Business Ethics Topics

Your ethics paper topic on business must be engaging and provide a practical solution to the ongoing economic challenges. Here is a compilation of some of the best business ethical topics for research papers. Each topic on this list will allow you to draft an excellent research paper and earn brilliant grades. Read on.

  • Roots of business ethics in Psychology
  • A Model of business ethics
  • A detailed study of the ethical philosophy behind Bitcoin
  • The unique connection between business success and personal integrity
  • Moral Leadership and Unethical Pro-Organizational Behavior
  • How closely can managers monitor their employees’ behavior?
  • Business ethics and social responsibility education: shifting the worldview
  • Ethical behaviors and economic rationality: an overview
  • Business ethics and social responsibilities
  • Who determines whether private or personal information should be collected?
  • The business ethics case of McDonald’s
  • Understanding and preventing ethical failures in leadership
  • Ethical Dilemmas in Conducting Business
  • Moral policing: It’s more business than ideology.
  • Data Security Enhancement and Business Ethics
  • Perceptions of business ethics: Students vs. business people
  • American business culture and ethical norms
  • Does business ethics make economic sense?
  • Moral Leadership and business ethics
  • Business Ethics in Islam: the glaring gap in Practice

Read Also – Business Research Topics

Criminal Justice Research Topics in Ethics

We always hear how law enforcement is made to protect the commoner’s rights. Unfortunately, it is not always the case. These law enforcers sometimes end up in morally ambiguous situations. Now and then, we often hear news about how a fellow police officer exploited a commoner. So, if this topic piques your interest, this list might be helpful for you. Below are some interesting topics in criminal justice ethics.

  • The Codes of ethics for criminal justice
  • Integrity in the Criminal Justice System
  • A detailed analysis of the ethics of criminal justice
  • Model affairs and impartial statutory policies.
  • Arguments for and against capital punishment
  • Discussion on the ethical ramifications of the “innocent until proven guilty” principle
  • Examination of the Stanford Prison Experiment’s ethical issues.
  • What moral ramifications do school shooter exercises have?
  • Discuss if Julian Assange’s prosecution is appropriate.
  • Examining the ethical difficulties of privatized prisons
  • Imprisonment of young offenders: Is it ethically right?
  • Ethics in criminal justice: theory and practices
  • Ethical Dilemmas and decisions in criminal justice

Read Also – 150 Advanced Law Research Paper Topics

Environmental Ethics Topics

If you are willing to compare and contrast topics for environmental ethics, you can take ideas from some of the below-given research topics. Read through the entire list, narrow down the best topics, and finally, set your tone to make your point.

  • An Introduction to environmental ethics
  • The bio-ethical standards of Coca-Cola
  • A detailed study of the global warming ethics
  • Assessing the US Government’s environmental ethics
  • Should companies be held accountable for preserving the environment?
  • A deeper look at the EU Administration’s environmental policy and commercial ethics
  • Environmental Regulations and business ethics
  • A detailed study on the primary environmental and ethical issues in business?
  • Ethics of setting up residential structures in sensitive habitats.
  • Animal testing in the cosmetic industry
  • Recreational environmental ethics: A more detailed examination of the effects of hunting
  • Ethical evaluation of initiatives to combat climate change
  • Commercial whaling: an ethical analysis
  • A detailed evaluation of insider trading: can we call it ethical?
  • Is there a moral case for pollution trade-off programmers?
  • What do people think about good versus bad ethics?
  • Electric vehicles can help rescue the environment.
  • Tax evasion and tax avoidance: what exactly is legally right?
  • A critical evaluation of the global warming ethics
  • Pollution trade-off programs: are they ethically justified?
  • Ethical Analysis of climate change mitigation efforts

Read Also – List of 150 Enticing Chemistry Research Topics

Final Thoughts

From the array of ethics topics provided, choose one that captures your interest and aligns with your academic preferences. We hope this list proves insightful for your upcoming research paper. If you ever feel stuck, remember that help is available!

Consider using our paper help service if you’re searching for a topic for your research proposal, thesis , dissertation, or any other academic writing. Our skilled paper helpers can assist you in developing a unique ethics research paper topic. Should you require expert guidance, don’t hesitate to seek outstanding writing assistance at a reasonable price.

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How to Write an Ethics Paper or Essay With Tips and Examples

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An ethics essay is one type of essays that students write to present their ideas about what is good or bad, right or wrong, white or black, and approved or prohibited in terms of various theories, approaches, techniques, practices, actions, behaviors, responsibilities, morals, results, obligations, virtues, and others, developing essential writing skills. When writing an ethics paper, students should understand that such an essay differs from other assignments, and it focuses on elaborating on issues with ethical or moral implications in philosophy. Basically, this elaboration entails writers arguing for a stand on an ethical or moral issue. Moreover, when writing such a composition, students should follow a basic essay structure: introduction-body-conclusion. In each of these sections, learners should capture critical elements, such as a thesis statement in the introduction part, topic sentences in body paragraphs, and a thesis restatement in the conclusion part. Hence, students need to learn how to write a good ethics paper or essay to demonstrate their knowledge of philosophy by using ethical and moral sides of an issue.

General Aspects

Academic writing is a broad discipline that exposes students to critical skills, including interpretation, explanation, reflection, and analysis of many essay topics. Basically, essay writing is one of the academic exercises that enable students to build these skills. One of the essay types that students write is a research paper on ethics. In this case, writers begin a research paper about ethics by introducing an assigned topic, explaining its significance, and presenting a clear thesis statement. When writing ethics essays in philosophy, students address issues related to morality, such as aspects of right and wrong or good and bad. Then, such concepts of ethics and morals underlie the importance of the right behaviors. In various settings, such as workplaces, humans establish codes of ethics and conduct to guide behavior. Therefore, when writing such compositions, a student’s focus is on how humans embrace or disregard good morals in society.

What Is an Ethics Paper and Its Purpose

According to its definition, an ethics paper is a written work that examines moral issues, ethical dilemmas, and contradicting cases, exploring questions of right and wrong. The primary purpose of writing an ethics paper is to examine and analyze various ethical theories, apply them to real-life situations, and present well-reasoned arguments to support a specific viewpoint on an author (Baron et al., 2014). Through this process, such a work aims to stimulate critical thinking and ethical reasoning analysis, helping people to understand different moral perspectives and refine their own beliefs. By examining the lens of ethical principles and their applications, such essays contribute to academic discourse, guide professional practices, and enhance moral awareness. At the individual level, people learn how to reflect on their values and the implications of their choices (Gorichanaz, 2023). Besides, an ethics paper typically includes an introduction with a thesis statement, a literature review, arguments and counterarguments, an analysis, and a conclusion. In terms of pages and words, the length of such a work can vary based on specific course requirements, topic’s complexity, guidelines provided by the instructor or institution, and academic levels:

High School

  • Pages: 2-5 pages
  • Words: 500-1250 words

College (Undergraduate)

  • Pages: 5-10 pages
  • Words: 1250-2500 words

University (Advanced Undergraduate or Honors)

  • Pages: 10-15 pages
  • Words: 2500-3750 words

Master’s

  • Pages: 20-30 pages
  • Words: 5000-7500 words
  • Pages: 30-50 pages or more
  • Words: 7500-12,500+ words

How to write an ethics paper or essay

1. Defining Features or Characteristics

Like all other types of papers , an ethics essay has unique features that define it as an academic text. Writing ethics involves explaining and evaluating moral principles, applying them to specific situations, and providing reasoned arguments supported by evidence (Stichler, 2014). To some extent, these features influence an essay structure of a paper. Basically, the first feature is proof of the importance of a topic. In this case, students show this importance by constructing essay topics as challenging issues facing society, hence talking about it. Then, the second characteristic is a thesis statement, and learners in philosophy formulate them to shed light on a topic. Further on, the third feature is arguments that support a thesis, and the fourth characteristic is possible counterarguments. Moreover, the fifth feature is a rebuttal, where writers insist on the strengths of their arguments while acknowledging possible or real counterarguments. In turn, the sixth characteristic is a sum-up of an ethics paper. Here, authors emphasize a thesis statement by justifying arguments in their favor that they provide in a written document. Therefore, to write a professional ethics paper, people clearly define a specific moral issue, use relevant ethical theories, provide reasoned arguments, and cite scholarly sources (Stichler, 2014). In turn, an argument can be considered as an ethical argument if this statement meets certain criteria that distinguish it from other types of claims. Here are key characteristics that make an argument an ethical argument:

  • Moral Principles: The argument is based on moral principles or ethical theories and involves considerations of right and wrong, justice, fairness, duty, virtue, or other good/bad concepts.
  • Normative Statements: Moral claims include normative statements, which prescribe how people ought to act rather than merely describing how they do act.
  • Reasoned Justifications: The statement provides reasoned justifications for its claims, relying on logical reasoning rather than emotional appeals or mere opinions.
  • Universalizability: Philosophical approaches often aim for universalizability, meaning the principles applied in the argument should be applicable to all similar situations, not just the specific case being discussed.
  • Consideration of Stakeholders: The argument takes into account the impact on all relevant stakeholders, considering how the actions or policies will affect different individuals or groups.
  • Ethical Theories and Principles: The claim often references established moral theories and principles, such as utilitarianism (maximizing overall happiness), deontology (duty-based ethics), virtue ethics (focusing on character), or rights-based approaches.
  • Consistency: Strong arguments strive for consistency, ensuring moral principles applied are coherent and do not lead to contradictory conclusions in different situations.
  • Moral Language: The sentence uses moral language, such as “right,” “wrong,” “ought,” “duty,” “rights,” “justice,” “virtue,” and others, to articulate its points.
  • Impartiality: It often requires impartiality, and key decisions should not be biased by personal interests but should consider the perspective of others affected.
  • Ethical Reflection: The claim involves ethical reflection, encouraging critical examination of moral beliefs and assumptions to arrive at a well-reasoned conclusion.

2. How Does an Ethics Paper Differ From Other Essays

There are many types of essays that students write under a discipline of philosophy. Basically, each essay type has unique characteristics, and they distinguish it from other papers. For an ethics essay, these characteristics include addressing a moral issue, using an ethical lens to make arguments regarding a controversial matter, or explaining a dilemma (Jansen & Ellerton, 2018). Ideally, this type of paper focuses on elaborating on ethics and morality. In contrast, a narrative essay focuses on telling the writer’s story, while an informative essay focuses on educating the audience concerning a topic. Moreover, while some papers, like narrative or college application essays, utilize the first-person language, an ethics essay takes a formal approach to a third-person language. As a result, a good ethics paper clearly defines a particular moral problem, applies relevant ethical theories, presents balanced arguments, and provides well-reasoned conclusions.

3. How to Know if Students Need to Write an Ethics Paper or Essay

Generally, before students write some types of papers, they first consider the department or tutor’s requirements. Basically, these requirements can provide direct instructions, including a research topic, an essay outline, or a grading rubric (Baron et al., 2014). In this case, the latter helps students to understand the basic expectations of educational departments or tutors. Therefore, when students do not get direct instructions about their ethics topics, they can always know what type of essay they need to write by reading grading essay rubric requirements. For ethics papers, such prompts require students to take a stand on an issue of profound ethical or moral implications, such as fraud. In turn, key elements that tell students that they need to write an ethics paper or essay include providing an ethical argument, elaborating on a moral dilemma, or expounding on ethical and legal implications.

4. How Do Students Know if They Need to Write an Ethics Paper by Looking at an Essay Topic

Students consider the instructions given by departments or tutors when writing essays. Basically, these instructions provide directions on essay topics, and students should address them when writing their papers. When writing an ethics paper, students can know that they need to write this type of essay by looking at the department or tutor’s topic. Moreover, this ethics topic may require people to provide valid arguments concerning a matter, elaborate on a moral dilemma, or state whether an issue is ethical or legal (Deaton, 2019). In turn, a central message of a topic should require students to address an issue via a philosophical lens. As a result, to write an ethical dilemma paper, people describe a specific moral problem, discuss conflicting values, analyze possible solutions using philosophical theories, and conclude with a reasoned decision.

5. The Meaning of an Ethical Argument, Ethical Dilemma, and Ethical v. Legal Implications

Key elements that define an ethics paper include ethical arguments, moral dilemmas, and ethical and legal implications. For example, the term “ethical arguments” refers to a concept of taking a stand on an issue with moral implications and defending it (Baines, 2009). In this case, writers make relevant arguments to support their perspectives on an issue raising moral questions, such as fraud. Then, the term “ethical dilemma” refers to a situation where individuals find themselves whenever they face an issue raising ethical or moral questions, such as bribery (Baines, 2009). Moreover, authors are torn between two options, with one option having severe moral implications. In turn, the term “ethical versus legal implications” refers to a situation where a writer has to decide whether an issue, such as bribery, needs ethical or legal redress (Baines, 2009). Hence, ethical dilemmas mean the complexity of making moral decisions and require a balance between conflicting values and principles, while some examples of them are:

Moral DilemmaExplanation
Lying to Protect SomeoneShould you lie to protect a friend’s secret, knowing that telling the truth could harm their reputation?
Stealing to Feed a FamilyShould you participate in a war you believe is unjust to fulfill your civic duty or refuse and face legal consequences?
EuthanasiaShould you assist in the euthanasia of a terminally ill loved one who is suffering despite it being illegal?
Reporting a Friend’s CrimeShould you report your friend’s illegal activities to the authorities, risking your friendship but upholding the law?
Breaking a Promise to Help AnotherShould you break a promise to a friend to help another friend in a more urgent situation?
Employee WhistleblowingShould you expose your company’s unethical practices, risking your job but potentially preventing harm to others?
Trolley ProblemShould you pull a lever toward you to divert a runaway trolley, killing one person but saving five others?
Medical Resource AllocationShould you allocate limited medical resources to a young patient with a better prognosis than an older patient?
Conscription vs. Conscientious ObjectionShould you participate in a war you believe is unjust to fulfill your civic duty or refuse and face legal consequences?
Privacy vs. SecurityShould you support increased surveillance to enhance public safety, even if it infringes on individual privacy rights?

Examples of Ethical & Moral Themes

  • Ethical Dimensions of Artificial Intelligence: Concerns and Potential Solutions
  • The Ethics and Legality of Child Adoption
  • The Pros and Cons of Taking Vitamin Supplements
  • Plastic Surgery and the Pursuit of Beauty
  • Human Cloning: Is It Ethical?
  • Death Penalty: Key Pros and Cons
  • Abortion as an Intervention Against Teen Pregnancy
  • Is Voting a Moral or Legal Duty?
  • Does Driving an Electric Car Indicate Responsible Citizenship?
  • Social Media Use and Privacy
  • Should Schools Enact Anti-Bullying Policies?
  • Does Social Media Use Enhance or Undermine Socialization?
  • Combating Music Piracy: Should Governments Get Involved?
  • Organic Foods vs. Processed Foods: Which Is Healthier?
  • Global Warming and the Extinction of Animal and Plant Species
  • Should Politics and Church Separate?
  • Is It Justified to Bribe to Avoid a Legal Penalty?
  • Should Nurses Be Allowed to Assist Terminally Ill Patients to End Their Lives?
  • Corporate Fraud: Who Should Take Responsibility?
  • Is Corporate Social Responsibility a Humanitarian or Commercial Concept?

Ethics Paper Format

SectionDescription
Title PageBegin your paper by presenting the paper’s title, author’s name, course, instructor’s name, and date.
AbstractProvide a concise summary of the paper’s content, including the main moral issue, theories, key arguments, and final remarks.
IntroductionStart an ethics paper with a compelling introduction that outlines a specific ethical issue, provide background information, and present a clear thesis statement concerning a moral problem under analysis.
BackgroundWrite a relevant context and detailed background information about a particular moral problem being discussed.
Literature ReviewSummarize existing research and ethical theories relevant to an assigned topic, highlighting different viewpoints.
ArgumentsInclude various arguments related to a corresponding moral issue, using relevant theories to support each perspective.
CounterargumentsDiscuss potential counterarguments to the main thesis and address them using ethical reasoning.
AnalysisCritically examine arguments and counterarguments, applying theoretical principles to evaluate them.
ConclusionEnd by summarizing the main points, restate the central thesis in light of the discussion, and provide final thoughts or recommendations.
ReferencesList all the sources used for writing an ethical analysis and format them according to a specific citation style (e.g., APA, MLA, Harvard, Chicago/Turabian, etc.).
AppendicesInclude any additional material, such as surveys, interview transcripts, charts, tables, or detailed explanations, if applicable.

Note: This ethics paper format is general, while some sections can be added, deleted, or combined with each other depending on the scope, requirements, instructions, and purpose.

Ethics Paper Outline

Like any other essay, an ethics paper follows a specific structure that underscores its outline. Basically, this structure comprises three sections: introduction, body, and conclusion. When writing these sections, students must ensure they address all the essential defining features stated previously in their ethics essays or papers. When doing so, writers should confirm that the introduction and conclusion sections take 10 percent of the total word count of an ethics paper or essay, while the body, which is the main text, should be 80 percent. Hence, an essay outline of an ethics paper should look as below:

I. Introduction

A. Hook sentence. B. Background information on an ethical dilemma. C. Writer’s claim – A thesis statement covering a moral part.

II. Body Paragraphs

A. Argument

  • state a position of an argument;
  • support this position with evidence;
  • explain how this evidence is right toward this argument and evidence;
  • conclude why this argument is valid.

B. Counterargument

  • provide a counterargument to a position in the first body paragraph;
  • include evidence that supports this counterargument, being opposite to an argument in the previous section;
  • explain how this counterargument and evidence in this paragraph are correct by using an opposite perspective;
  • finish why this counterargument is valid for this case.

C. Rebuttal

  • define the weaknesses of a counterargument;
  • cover credible evidence that supports such weaknesses;
  • write how these weaknesses make a counterargument irrelevant;
  • end with a statement that explains why a counterargument is not valid compared to an argument.

III. Conclusion

A. Restate a thesis. B. Sum up on the argument, counterargument, and rebuttal. C. State a paper’s final claim with a moral lesson.

Explaining Each Section of an Ethics Paper Structure

When writing the introduction section, authors of an ethics paper should be brief and concise. Here, students should inform the audience about the purpose of writing by accurately expounding on an ethical issue they intend to address (Baron et al., 2014). In essence, this aspect means highlighting their stand concerning an issue. Moreover, formulating a thesis statement helps to accomplish this goal. In this case, writers frame their minds and structure their compositions via the use of arguments, and they defend their stand on an issue of profound moral implications. Notably, when writing the introduction part, which signals the start of an ethical paper or essay, learners should begin with a hook to grab the readers’ attention. This sentence can be a popular misconception or a question that writers intend to answer when writing an ethics paper or essay. In turn, the next examples of starters can help writers to begin their ethical analysis and set the stage for a thorough exploration of the topic:

  • Moral implications of [issue] are complex and involve different considerations, such as … .
  • One of the most pressing ethical questions surrounding [issue] is whether … .
  • From the perspective of deontological ethics, [action] can be viewed as … .
  • A utilitarian approach to [issue] would suggest … .
  • The principle of autonomy plays a crucial role in the debate over [issue], as it emphasizes … .
  • In considering the ethical dimensions of [issue], it is important to weigh the potential benefits against … .
  • The controversy over [issue] highlights the tension between [value 1] and [value 2] … .
  • Philosophical lenses, such as [theory 1], [theory 2], and [theory 3] provide a framework for understanding [issue] by focusing on … .
  • The debate over [issue] raises significant moral concerns, including … .
  • Examining [issue] through the lens of [ethical theory] reveals … .

II. Body Section

When writing the body of an ethics paper or essay, students should use a thesis statement as a reference point. In other words, they should use a thesis statement to come up with several ideas or arguments in defense of their stand on an assigned ethical or moral issue identified in the introduction part (Deaton, 2019). Basically, rules of academic writing dictate that students should begin each body paragraph with a topic sentence, whose purpose is to introduce a claim or idea they intend to elaborate on in the section. Then, it is advisable that, when writing the body section, learners should use different paragraphs to separate arguments logically. Moreover, students should follow a sandwich rule when writing every body paragraph of an ethics paper or essay. In turn, such a paragraph structure means providing a claim, supporting it with evidence, explaining its relevance to the paper’s thesis, and ending with a transition sentence to be connected with the next paragraph logically.

The conclusion part is the last section of an ethics paper. In particular, an ethics essay should capture several themes in this section. Firstly, writers should restate a thesis statement. Secondly, they should summarize the main points made in body paragraphs. Further on, this aspect means summarizing the writer’s arguments for their stands toward an issue with moral implications (Baines, 2009). In turn, authors should reiterate the paper’s topic and state why it was essential to address an ethical or moral issue. Besides, students need to avoid providing new information in this section.

Example of an Ethics Paper

Topic – Euthanasia: Is It Ethical?

I. Introduction Sample

Terminal illness is a condition of profound pain and suffering for those affected, including the patients and their families. Today, some scientists support euthanasia, the aspect of assisting terminally ill patients in ending their lives. While health professionals should do everything to help their patients to avoid suffering, assisting them in ending their lives is unethical and immoral.

II. Examples of Body Paragraphs

Life is a sacred thing, and no human being has any justification for ending it, regardless of whose it is. For example, the premise of a debate about euthanasia, which refers to assisted suicide, is the prevalence of terminal illnesses that subject individuals to a life of pain, suffering, and dependence. Without any hope of recovery, some individuals have opted to end their lives with the help of their loved ones or health professionals. While there is every reason to empathize with these individuals’ fate, there is no basis for supporting their desire to end their lives. In turn, the sanctity of life does not allow human beings to end life, no matter the circumstances.

If there seems to be no hope of recovery, ending life is counterproductive in an age of significant scientific and technological advancements. Basically, scientists are working round the clock to find cures for incurable diseases that have proven to be a threat to humanity. For example, today, smallpox is no longer a threat because a cure is found (Persson, 2010). Therefore, the fact that there may be no cure for a disease today does not mean that there will not be a cure tomorrow. Naturally, human beings rely on hope to overcome moments of darkness, such as a terminal illness diagnosis. Nonetheless, it is the effort of the scientific community that has always brought hope to humanity. In this light, there is no ethical or moral justification for euthanasia.

Euthanasia is not only a solution to terminal illness but also a sign of hopelessness and despair. When patients take the root of assisted suicide, it means that they give up on looking for alternatives in dealing with a problem. In this case, the fact that a terminal illness does not have a cure does not imply that it cannot be managed. Moreover, individuals who love a terminally ill person, such as family members and friends, hope to spend more time with them before an inevitable time happens. As such, terminally ill patients should use their families and health professionals to live longer. In essence, this aspect reflects true humanity – standing firm and determining amid of insurmountable odds. On that truth alone, euthanasia is an idea that deserves no thought or attention.

III. Conclusion Sample

There is nothing more devastating than a terminal illness diagnosis. Basically, such news punctures the hope of many individuals, families, and communities. Nonetheless, patients should not lose hope and despair to the point of wanting to end their lives because of being diagnosed with a terminal illness. Because life is sacred and there is always a higher probability of medical breakthroughs in an age of scientific and technological advancement, euthanasia is an unethical and immoral solution to a terminal illness.

Persson, S. (2010). Smallpox, syphilis, and salvation: Medical breakthroughs that changed the world . East Gosford, New South Wales: Exisle Publishing.

Essay writing is an essential academic exercise that enables students to develop writing skills. When writing an ethics paper or essay, students focus on taking a stand on an issue with ethical or moral implications. In this case, writers create a thesis statement that expresses their perspective on a moral issue, which can be an ethical dilemma. In the main text, authors provide arguments that defend their thesis statements. Hence, when writing an ethics paper or essay, students should master the following tips:

  • Develop the introduction-body-conclusion paper outline.
  • Introduce an assigned topic briefly and concisely in the introduction section.
  • Write a strong thesis statement covering a moral problem.
  • Use separate body paragraphs to introduce and defend arguments.
  • Ensure to provide a counterargument and a rebuttal.
  • Restate a central thesis statement in the conclusion section, including a summary of the main points (arguments that defend the paper’s thesis).

Baines, B. K. (2009). Ethical wills: Putting your values on paper . Da Capo Press.

Baron, P., Poxon, B., & Jones, L. (2014). How to write ethics and philosophy essays . PushMe Press.

Deaton, M. (2019). Ethics in a nutshell: The philosopher’s approach to morality in 100 pages . Notaed Press.

Gorichanaz, T. (2023). A compass for what matters: Applying virtue ethics to information behavior. Open Information Science , 7 (1), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1515/opis-2022-0151

Jansen, M., & Ellerton, P. (2018). How to read an ethics paper. Journal of Medical Ethics , 44 (12), 810–813. https://doi.org/10.1136/medethics-2018-104997

Stichler, J. F. (2014). The ethics of research, writing, and publication. HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal , 8 (1), 15–19. https://doi.org/10.1177/193758671400800103

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ethics term paper

Introduction

Writing an ethics paper requires critical thinking, reflection, and the ability to form a well-structured argument. This type of essay entails exploring a specific ethical issue, dilemma, or concept and presenting the writer’s point of view on the topic with evidence-based reasoning. An ethics paper is not merely a matter of personal opinion but should present a structured argument supported by credible research and analysis. Here is a comprehensive guide to help you write an impeccable ethics paper.

1. Choose a Topic

The first step in writing an ethics paper is to choose a relevant and engaging topic. The subject should be interesting to you and raise thought-provoking questions that can fuel debate. Avoid overly broad issues that would make it challenging to present a coherent argument. Instead, focus on specific areas within the field of ethics such as bioethics, business ethics, or environmental ethics.

2. Conduct Research

After selecting your topic, conduct extensive research to gather as much information as possible about the issue at hand. Refer to scholarly articles, books, and other trusted sources for credible material that lends both depth and substance to your paper. Be sure to take notes on source materials and their authors for proper citation later in your essay.

3. Develop Your Thesis Statement

A clear and concise thesis statement is essential for focus and direction throughout your paper. Your thesis should communicate the central point or argument you will make in your ethics paper – this is often expressed as a claim backed up by reasons. Make sure your statement is specific enough to be manageable within the scope of your assignment but broad enough to give room for interpretation.

4. Prepare an Outline

Developing an outline can help you organize your thoughts and plan how you will make your argument step by step. This structure should include:

– Introduction: A brief overview of the topic along with your thesis statement

– Background: Contextualize your argument by providing necessary background information

– Main Arguments: Present your main points and support them with evidence

– Counterarguments: Address potential objections and opposing viewpoints

– Conclusion: Summarize your arguments and restate your thesis

5. Write Your Ethics Paper

With your outline in place, begin drafting your ethics paper following the structure you have devised. Make sure to cite sources as you present evidence for your arguments, using standard citation formats (such as APA, MLA, or Chicago) depending on your assignment requirements. Remember to maintain clarity and flow in your writing by using smooth transitions between sentences and paragraphs.

6. Address Counterarguments

Including counterarguments enhances the credibility of your ethics paper by demonstrating your awareness of opposing views. When addressing counterarguments, present the opposing viewpoints fairly and objectively while simultaneously providing reasons why your position is preferable or holds a stronger evidence base.

7. Revise and Edit

After completing the first draft of your ethics paper, take some time to revise and edit it thoroughly. This step ensures that your essay is free from grammatical, stylistic, and structural errors. Ask for feedback from peers or instructors to gain insight into any areas that may need improvement.

Writing an ethics paper requires careful analysis, thoughtful consideration of different perspectives, and a clear articulation of your own point of view. By following these steps – choosing a topic, conducting research, developing a thesis statement, preparing an outline, writing the paper itself, addressing counterarguments, and revising – you will be well-equipped to craft a captivating and persuasive ethics paper that will engage readers and spark meaningful debate on important ethical issues.

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180 Ethics Topics & Ethical Questions to Debate

Our code of ethics is derived from what we think is right or wrong. On top of that, we have to agree to the moral standards established by the society we live in. Conventional norms generally label theft, murder, or harassment as bad. However, there are many influences that impact our considerations and understanding of ethics.

Ethics is a branch of philosophy that studies moral issues. This article outlines the three different types of ethics and presents a list of compelling ethics topics for essays and research papers, as well as ethical questions to debate.

You don’t know how to write about ethics or which ethical argument topic to choose for your paper? Maybe your assignment deadline is dreadfully looming over you? Our custom writing service is happy to help you craft a fantastic essay on ethics whenever the need arises.

🔝 Top 10 Ethical Topics

  • 🧑🤝🧑Types of Ethics
  • 🤔 Ethical Issues
  • 🖥️ Computer Ethics
  • 🧬 Bioethics
  • 🚓👮 Criminal Justice
  • ⚖️ Ethical Dilemmas

⭐ Top 10 Ethics Topics to Debate

😈 ethical questions to debate, 🔍 references.

  • Religious beliefs vs. medical care
  • Issues behind unpaid internships
  • Toxic environment at the workplace
  • The dilemma of reporting an accident
  • Should one’s political leanings be private?
  • The limits of doctor-patient confidentiality
  • Is it ethical to pay children for good grades?
  • Ethics at the workplace and discrimination
  • Should social media be allowed at the workplace?
  • Promotion of environmental responsibility in business

🧑🤝🧑 Types of Ethics

Modern philosophy splits ethics into three groups: metaethics, normative ethics, and applied ethics.

  • The core question of metaethics is: “What is morality, and where does it come from?” It is also concerned with the emergence of human values, motivation, and reasoning.
  • Normative ethics seeks to answer the question, “How should I act?” An example of a normative moral theory is Kant’s Categorical Imperative: Act only according to that maxim whereby you can, at the same time, will that it should become a universal law . In other words: be kind.
  • Applied ethics seeks to apply moral considerations into real-life controversial subjects. Its contents can vary greatly and touch bioethics as well as criminal justice. It studies specific actions and practices from the point of moral acceptance.

Virtues are necessary.

However, ethics does not end with these three types. Over the centuries, philosophers have proposed various ethical theories. Their four general categories are deontological, utilitarian, right, and virtue ethics.

  • A deontologist is a person with a set of moral duties from which they will not adhere. When faced with an ethical conflict, they will always act according to their self-proclaimed obligations.
  • For a utilitarian , a decision needs to yield the greatest benefit for the majority.
  • If rights are the root of an ethical theory, these are the highest priority. A person’s rights can either be established in a society by law or bestowed from one individual upon another.
  • Judging someone by virtue means considering a person’s character rather than their actions. Here, an individual’s reputation, motivation, and ethics play a crucial role.

Now that you know the basics, you have the perfect ground to start your ethics essay.

🤔 Ethical Topics for an Essay

Ethical issues are situations in which an individual needs to evaluate which course of action is morally right. Essays on this topic shine a light on difficult questions. Therefore, students need to defend their position convincingly.

  • Discuss what we should do about climate change.
  • What are the moral problems surrounding abortion?
  • Can we still justify eating meat?
  • Investigate the use of plastic in the beauty industry.
  • Is it unethical to be extremely rich?
  • Should you buy Nestlé products despite the fact that the company privatizes water?
  • Is the unequal distribution of wealth unethical?
  • Discuss how workplace ethics should take sexism into account.
  • What can we do to combat racism?
  • Why are LGBT+ people discriminated against?
  • Should euthanasia be legal?
  • Can war be ethical?
  • Should schools punish students for attending the Fridays for Future protests?
  • Would drug use be unethical if it were legal?
  • Explain the moral problems that come with automating jobs.

The Ten Commandments.

  • Is it ethical to hire someone to do assignments for you?
  • How far should everyone’s right to privacy go?
  • Is using animals for scientific testing unethical?
  • How should governments deal with refugees? 
  • Discuss the carbon impact of having children.
  • Can modern societies still be held accountable for what their nation did in the past?
  • Analyze the benefits and disadvantages of universal income.
  • How much control should the state have on the press?
  • Should schools teach religion?
  • What are ethical concerns regarding downloading media from the internet?

🖥️ Computer Ethics Essay Topics

The advent of information technology has altered every aspect of our lives. Computer ethics applies traditional moral theories to everything surrounding computers and cyber security. The list below contains enthralling ethical topics concerned with the realm of computing.

  • How much work should we leave entirely to computers?
  • Discuss the dangers of storing vulnerable data online.
  • Are computers secure enough to contain so much information about our lives?
  • Discuss if hacking can be morally justified.
  • Examine privacy-related concerns regarding computers .
  • Should all software be free?
  • How can you legitimize the possession of a computer algorithm patent?
  • What can be done to prevent cyberbullying?
  • Investigate the moral effects anonymity has on internet users.
  • Whose laws apply if you wish to protect your rights online?
  • Discuss how the necessity to own a computer impacts poorer nations and people.
  • Which ethical problems can people face due to the internet’s possibilities?
  • When is sabotaging another person’s computer justified?
  • Analyze the social responsibility that comes with developing new software.
  • Are computer crimes less harmful than crimes against humans?
  • Who owns information that is distributed online?
  • What is more important: easy accessibility or privacy?
  • Investigate the moral problems associated with AI.
  • If a computer makes a critical mistake, whose fault is it?
  • Discuss the importance of netiquette.
  • How should tech companies deal with ethical problems?
  • Can AI algorithms ensure ethical behavior? 
  • Why do tech companies need ethics boards?
  • Which ethical conflicts appear when using drones?
  • Investigate racial bias in facial recognition systems.

🏅 Sports Ethics Topics for a Paper

Morality in sports is based on integrity, respect, responsibility, and fairness. Often, this puts athletes into a dilemma: do I want to be ethical, or do I want to win? Answering these questions is not always easy. The following list compiles sports topics for a research paper on ethics.

  • What are moral complications when using enhancement drugs?
  • Is gamesmanship unethical?
  • How important is ethics in sports?
  • Discuss the moral responsibilities of athletes .
  • What are ethical reasons to pay college athletes?
  • Investigate the ethical implications of kneeling for the national anthem .
  • Can college sports and the principles of higher education go hand in hand?
  • Investigate the sexist bias in sports.
  • Was it selfish when the American female soccer team went to court to demand equal pay?

Thomas A. Edison quote.

  • What moral obligations do universities have towards their athletes?
  • When can you justify cheating?
  • Concerning the environment, how can professional sports events be ethical?
  • Which ethical issues do healthcare workers have concerning sportspeople? 
  • Which moral duties do teams’ coaches have?
  • Are the extremely high salaries of sports professionals justified?
  • In 2003, the Olympics abolished the wild card system. Was that fair?
  • Because of the Paralympics, disabled athletes cannot take part in the real Olympics. Is that discriminatory?
  • Discuss how money influences the fairness of a sport.
  • Debate if and how children are exploited to become elite athletes.
  • Which moral duties should a good sport follow?
  • How much should parents get involved in their child’s physical education?
  • Investigate if everyday codes of ethics should apply to sports.
  • Discuss the ethical implications of motorsports.
  • Who is responsible if a player gets injured?
  • Are referees always fair?

🧬 Bioethics Topics for an Essay

Bioethics comes into play when we talk about life and health. It expands from genetics to neurology and even plastic surgery. In the name of the common good, researchers often find themselves in conflicting positions. This makes bioethics an especially exciting topic to write about.

  • Discuss the moral conflicts of genetic engineering. 
  • What are the ethical responsibilities associated with using CRISPR? 
  • Investigate the problems of stem cell research.
  • When can humans be used for drug testing? 
  • Should vaccinations be mandatory for everyone?
  • Investigate the ethics that apply to a medical worker.
  • Discuss the harmful effects of plastic surgery. 
  • Should a person who is brain dead be kept alive?
  • Is it just that medical care is linked to an individual’s ability to pay?
  • Should everyone be an organ donor by default?
  • What is more important: a person’s right to privacy or the information of at-risk relatives?
  • Is prenatal invasive testing ethical?
  • Should neuroenhancement drugs be legal?
  • Discuss ethical conflicts concerning Disclosure and Barring Service.
  • Is it ethical to improve memory functions with brain stimulation?
  • Analyze the ethical issues concerning precision medicine.
  • What are the problems of surrogacy? 
  • Should medical personnel collect healthy tissues of a deceased person without their consent?

Bioethics is closely connected with the fields of technology, medicine, politics, philosophy, and law,

  • What should be done with the child of a brain-dead pregnant woman?
  • How important is a subject’s anonymity during research?
  • Discuss the ethics of shared decision-making .
  • How much responsibility do mentally challenged people carry for their actions?
  • Was Sweden right not to impose strict lockdown rules during the COVID-19 pandemic?
  • To what extent are businesses responsible for their employees’ health?
  • Should universal healthcare be free?

🚓👮 Criminal Justice Ethics Topics to Write About

Law enforcers should always act ethically. Unfortunately, it is not always the case. Police officers and attorneys often end up in morally ambiguous situations. In many cases, they don’t do what the public deems the right thing. Below are the examples of criminal justice ethics topics.

  • When is it legitimate for a police officer to use violence?
  • How can an officer remain impartial?
  • Should law enforcement visibly wear guns in public? 
  • How much force is too much?
  • Investigate possible ethical implications associated with true crime podcasts.
  • Should prostitution be legal in the US?
  • How ethical is interrogation? 
  • Can torture be justified?
  • Discuss the ethical consequences of lying when working in criminal justice .
  • Is working undercover deception? 
  • Debate whether it is an American citizen’s moral duty to participate in jury duty.
  • Should the police be allowed to access everyone’s data?
  • Discuss the moral complications of “innocent until proven guilty.”
  • Should convicted pedophiles be allowed to see their children?
  • Can teaching ethics at schools prevent crime?
  • Analyze ethical problems of the Stanford Prison Experiment.
  • Should NATO have become involved in America’s Afghan war?
  • What are the ethical implications of shooter drills at school?
  • Was Edward Snowden morally in the wrong?
  • How should we deal with child soldiers?
  • Discuss if the prosecution of Julian Assange is justified.
  • Examine the ethical problems of private prisons.
  • What moral obligations should someone consider when granting prisoners the right to work?
  • When is capital punishment justified?
  • Is it ethical to incarcerate juvenile offenders? 

⚖️ Ethical Dilemma Topics to Write About

An ethical issue becomes a dilemma when different moral standards clash with each other. In this situation, it is impossible to find a path to an ethically permissible solution that is unambiguous. The following sample topics are a solid base to start a discussion on morals.

  • Should parents watch over what their children do on the internet?
  • Would you report an accident you caused if there are no witnesses?
  • What should a doctor do if a patient refuses life-saving treatment for religious reasons? 
  • Should you turn down a client if their political views do not match yours?
  • Would you promote something you are not convinced of to get money?
  • Should you lie to land a job that gets you out of poverty?

Ethical dilemmas.

  • Your partner cheated on you. Now, you get the chance to take your revenge with someone you really like. Would you do it? 
  • Should students use automated writing tools like free thesis generators , summarizers, and paraphrasers?
  • Your teacher is continuously mocking your classmate. You are a teacher’s pet. Would you speak up?
  • Your son likes to wear dresses. One day, he asks if he can wear one to school. Will you let him?
  • You are very religious. Your daughter wants to get married to another woman and invites you to her wedding. What will you do?
  • Prenatal testing showed that your unborn child has a disability. Would you terminate pregnancy?
  • You are in a long-term relationship. Suddenly, your partner gets a job offer in another part of the world. What would you do?
  • You have a terminal illness. This makes you a financial burden to your relatives. Are you obliged towards them to quit your treatment?
  • You have a red and a blue candy bar. Blue is your favorite, but you also know that it’s your friend’s favorite. Will you give it to them?
  • A friend asked you for a loan. Since then, they have not given you anything back. They are still not wholly stable financially. Will you ask them to return the money?
  • Your grandma passed away and bequeathed her favorite mink coat to you. You are a vegan. What do you do?
  • A few years ago, you borrowed a gun from a friend. Now, they ask for it back, but their mental state seems to be rapidly deteriorating. This makes you scared they are going to shoot someone, or themselves. What do you do?
  • You find out that your friend cheats on their spouse. You are close friends with their family. Will you tell on them?
  • For your birthday, your friend gave you a sweater they’ve made themselves. You think it’s ugly. Do you tell them?
  • You are a vegan. Should you buy vegan products which are highly problematic to produce? 
  • You are in a restaurant. Your order arrives too late. The waitress looks stressed. Will you make her take it back?
  • You went to the store and bought a new, expensive item. The clerk gives you too much change. Do you give it back?
  • You are walking with a friend and find $50 on the floor. Would you share it with them?
  • Your child firmly believes in Santa Claus. One Christmas, they start suspecting that he is not real. What do you do? 
  • Is having pets ethical?
  • Can eating meat be justified?
  • Should we defund the police?
  • Should atomic bombs be banned?
  • Can discrimination be justified?
  • Is it ethical to ask someone’s age?
  • Should children get paid for chores?
  • Is it unprofessional to send voice messages?
  • Should children be allowed to vote?
  • Should influencers promote products they don’t use?
  • Should there be any limitations to doctor and patient confidentiality?
  • Should physician-assisted suicide be allowed?
  • Can teenagers get plastic surgery?
  • What to do when you find out that your relative has committed an offense?
  • What to do when you see your friend cheating on the exam?
  • Should sportsmen be paid more than teachers?
  • Should gender quotas be used during parliamentary elections?
  • Do companies have the right to collect information about their customers?
  • Can politicians appeal to religious issues during electoral campaigns?
  • Should fake news be censored in a democratic society?

We hope that in this list you’ve found the ethics topic that fits you the best. Good luck with your assignment!

Further reading:

  • 430 Philosophy Topics & Questions for Your Essay
  • 226 Research Topics on Criminal Justice & Criminology
  • 512 Research Topics on HumSS (Humanities & Social Sciences)
  • 204 Research Topics on Technology & Computer Science
  • What’s the Difference Between Morality and Ethics?: Britannica
  • What is Ethics?: Santa Clara University
  • Ethics: Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy
  • Metaethics: Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
  • Ethical Issues: Idaho State University
  • The Problem with AI Ethics: The Verge
  • Sports Ethics: Santa Clara University
  • What Is Bioethics?: Michigan State University
  • Ethics in Criminal Justice: Campbellsville University
  • Kant’s Formula of Universal Law: Harvard University
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  • Ethical Considerations in Research | Types & Examples

Ethical Considerations in Research | Types & Examples

Published on October 18, 2021 by Pritha Bhandari . Revised on May 9, 2024.

Ethical considerations in research are a set of principles that guide your research designs and practices. Scientists and researchers must always adhere to a certain code of conduct when collecting data from people.

The goals of human research often include understanding real-life phenomena, studying effective treatments, investigating behaviors, and improving lives in other ways. What you decide to research and how you conduct that research involve key ethical considerations.

These considerations work to

  • protect the rights of research participants
  • enhance research validity
  • maintain scientific or academic integrity

Table of contents

Why do research ethics matter, getting ethical approval for your study, types of ethical issues, voluntary participation, informed consent, confidentiality, potential for harm, results communication, examples of ethical failures, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about research ethics.

Research ethics matter for scientific integrity, human rights and dignity, and collaboration between science and society. These principles make sure that participation in studies is voluntary, informed, and safe for research subjects.

You’ll balance pursuing important research objectives with using ethical research methods and procedures. It’s always necessary to prevent permanent or excessive harm to participants, whether inadvertent or not.

Defying research ethics will also lower the credibility of your research because it’s hard for others to trust your data if your methods are morally questionable.

Even if a research idea is valuable to society, it doesn’t justify violating the human rights or dignity of your study participants.

Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check.

Before you start any study involving data collection with people, you’ll submit your research proposal to an institutional review board (IRB) .

An IRB is a committee that checks whether your research aims and research design are ethically acceptable and follow your institution’s code of conduct. They check that your research materials and procedures are up to code.

If successful, you’ll receive IRB approval, and you can begin collecting data according to the approved procedures. If you want to make any changes to your procedures or materials, you’ll need to submit a modification application to the IRB for approval.

If unsuccessful, you may be asked to re-submit with modifications or your research proposal may receive a rejection. To get IRB approval, it’s important to explicitly note how you’ll tackle each of the ethical issues that may arise in your study.

There are several ethical issues you should always pay attention to in your research design, and these issues can overlap with each other.

You’ll usually outline ways you’ll deal with each issue in your research proposal if you plan to collect data from participants.

Voluntary participation Your participants are free to opt in or out of the study at any point in time.
Informed consent Participants know the purpose, benefits, risks, and funding behind the study before they agree or decline to join.
Anonymity You don’t know the identities of the participants. Personally identifiable data is not collected.
Confidentiality You know who the participants are but you keep that information hidden from everyone else. You anonymize personally identifiable data so that it can’t be linked to other data by anyone else.
Potential for harm Physical, social, psychological and all other types of harm are kept to an absolute minimum.
Results communication You ensure your work is free of or research misconduct, and you accurately represent your results.

Voluntary participation means that all research subjects are free to choose to participate without any pressure or coercion.

All participants are able to withdraw from, or leave, the study at any point without feeling an obligation to continue. Your participants don’t need to provide a reason for leaving the study.

It’s important to make it clear to participants that there are no negative consequences or repercussions to their refusal to participate. After all, they’re taking the time to help you in the research process , so you should respect their decisions without trying to change their minds.

Voluntary participation is an ethical principle protected by international law and many scientific codes of conduct.

Take special care to ensure there’s no pressure on participants when you’re working with vulnerable groups of people who may find it hard to stop the study even when they want to.

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Informed consent refers to a situation in which all potential participants receive and understand all the information they need to decide whether they want to participate. This includes information about the study’s benefits, risks, funding, and institutional approval.

You make sure to provide all potential participants with all the relevant information about

  • what the study is about
  • the risks and benefits of taking part
  • how long the study will take
  • your supervisor’s contact information and the institution’s approval number

Usually, you’ll provide participants with a text for them to read and ask them if they have any questions. If they agree to participate, they can sign or initial the consent form. Note that this may not be sufficient for informed consent when you work with particularly vulnerable groups of people.

If you’re collecting data from people with low literacy, make sure to verbally explain the consent form to them before they agree to participate.

For participants with very limited English proficiency, you should always translate the study materials or work with an interpreter so they have all the information in their first language.

In research with children, you’ll often need informed permission for their participation from their parents or guardians. Although children cannot give informed consent, it’s best to also ask for their assent (agreement) to participate, depending on their age and maturity level.

Anonymity means that you don’t know who the participants are and you can’t link any individual participant to their data.

You can only guarantee anonymity by not collecting any personally identifying information—for example, names, phone numbers, email addresses, IP addresses, physical characteristics, photos, and videos.

In many cases, it may be impossible to truly anonymize data collection . For example, data collected in person or by phone cannot be considered fully anonymous because some personal identifiers (demographic information or phone numbers) are impossible to hide.

You’ll also need to collect some identifying information if you give your participants the option to withdraw their data at a later stage.

Data pseudonymization is an alternative method where you replace identifying information about participants with pseudonymous, or fake, identifiers. The data can still be linked to participants but it’s harder to do so because you separate personal information from the study data.

Confidentiality means that you know who the participants are, but you remove all identifying information from your report.

All participants have a right to privacy, so you should protect their personal data for as long as you store or use it. Even when you can’t collect data anonymously, you should secure confidentiality whenever you can.

Some research designs aren’t conducive to confidentiality, but it’s important to make all attempts and inform participants of the risks involved.

As a researcher, you have to consider all possible sources of harm to participants. Harm can come in many different forms.

  • Psychological harm: Sensitive questions or tasks may trigger negative emotions such as shame or anxiety.
  • Social harm: Participation can involve social risks, public embarrassment, or stigma.
  • Physical harm: Pain or injury can result from the study procedures.
  • Legal harm: Reporting sensitive data could lead to legal risks or a breach of privacy.

It’s best to consider every possible source of harm in your study as well as concrete ways to mitigate them. Involve your supervisor to discuss steps for harm reduction.

Make sure to disclose all possible risks of harm to participants before the study to get informed consent. If there is a risk of harm, prepare to provide participants with resources or counseling or medical services if needed.

Some of these questions may bring up negative emotions, so you inform participants about the sensitive nature of the survey and assure them that their responses will be confidential.

The way you communicate your research results can sometimes involve ethical issues. Good science communication is honest, reliable, and credible. It’s best to make your results as transparent as possible.

Take steps to actively avoid plagiarism and research misconduct wherever possible.

Plagiarism means submitting others’ works as your own. Although it can be unintentional, copying someone else’s work without proper credit amounts to stealing. It’s an ethical problem in research communication because you may benefit by harming other researchers.

Self-plagiarism is when you republish or re-submit parts of your own papers or reports without properly citing your original work.

This is problematic because you may benefit from presenting your ideas as new and original even though they’ve already been published elsewhere in the past. You may also be infringing on your previous publisher’s copyright, violating an ethical code, or wasting time and resources by doing so.

In extreme cases of self-plagiarism, entire datasets or papers are sometimes duplicated. These are major ethical violations because they can skew research findings if taken as original data.

You notice that two published studies have similar characteristics even though they are from different years. Their sample sizes, locations, treatments, and results are highly similar, and the studies share one author in common.

Research misconduct

Research misconduct means making up or falsifying data, manipulating data analyses, or misrepresenting results in research reports. It’s a form of academic fraud.

These actions are committed intentionally and can have serious consequences; research misconduct is not a simple mistake or a point of disagreement about data analyses.

Research misconduct is a serious ethical issue because it can undermine academic integrity and institutional credibility. It leads to a waste of funding and resources that could have been used for alternative research.

Later investigations revealed that they fabricated and manipulated their data to show a nonexistent link between vaccines and autism. Wakefield also neglected to disclose important conflicts of interest, and his medical license was taken away.

This fraudulent work sparked vaccine hesitancy among parents and caregivers. The rate of MMR vaccinations in children fell sharply, and measles outbreaks became more common due to a lack of herd immunity.

Research scandals with ethical failures are littered throughout history, but some took place not that long ago.

Some scientists in positions of power have historically mistreated or even abused research participants to investigate research problems at any cost. These participants were prisoners, under their care, or otherwise trusted them to treat them with dignity.

To demonstrate the importance of research ethics, we’ll briefly review two research studies that violated human rights in modern history.

These experiments were inhumane and resulted in trauma, permanent disabilities, or death in many cases.

After some Nazi doctors were put on trial for their crimes, the Nuremberg Code of research ethics for human experimentation was developed in 1947 to establish a new standard for human experimentation in medical research.

In reality, the actual goal was to study the effects of the disease when left untreated, and the researchers never informed participants about their diagnoses or the research aims.

Although participants experienced severe health problems, including blindness and other complications, the researchers only pretended to provide medical care.

When treatment became possible in 1943, 11 years after the study began, none of the participants were offered it, despite their health conditions and high risk of death.

Ethical failures like these resulted in severe harm to participants, wasted resources, and lower trust in science and scientists. This is why all research institutions have strict ethical guidelines for performing research.

If you want to know more about statistics , methodology , or research bias , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

  • Normal distribution
  • Measures of central tendency
  • Chi square tests
  • Confidence interval
  • Quartiles & Quantiles
  • Cluster sampling
  • Stratified sampling
  • Thematic analysis
  • Cohort study
  • Peer review
  • Ethnography

Research bias

  • Implicit bias
  • Cognitive bias
  • Conformity bias
  • Hawthorne effect
  • Availability heuristic
  • Attrition bias
  • Social desirability bias

Ethical considerations in research are a set of principles that guide your research designs and practices. These principles include voluntary participation, informed consent, anonymity, confidentiality, potential for harm, and results communication.

Scientists and researchers must always adhere to a certain code of conduct when collecting data from others .

These considerations protect the rights of research participants, enhance research validity , and maintain scientific integrity.

Research ethics matter for scientific integrity, human rights and dignity, and collaboration between science and society. These principles make sure that participation in studies is voluntary, informed, and safe.

Anonymity means you don’t know who the participants are, while confidentiality means you know who they are but remove identifying information from your research report. Both are important ethical considerations .

You can only guarantee anonymity by not collecting any personally identifying information—for example, names, phone numbers, email addresses, IP addresses, physical characteristics, photos, or videos.

You can keep data confidential by using aggregate information in your research report, so that you only refer to groups of participants rather than individuals.

These actions are committed intentionally and can have serious consequences; research misconduct is not a simple mistake or a point of disagreement but a serious ethical failure.

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Formidable Ethical Research Paper Topics For You!

ethical research paper topics

Students in every course highly seek ethical research paper topics. Why may you ask? It is because every class, or rather, every career requires a particular set of ethical standards.

However, coming across some easy ethical research paper topics may not be that easy after all. Lucky for you, this splendid and reputable post will solve that in a moment.

Before that, how do you write an ethical research paper?

How To Write an Ethical Research Paper (Simply)

The following quick guidelines will give you an overview of how such a paper resembles and what you should do.

  • Choose a captivating topic on ethics
  • Formulate an outline
  • Start writing with a hook introduction
  • Proceed on with a descriptive body
  • Finish with a momentous conclusion
  • Proofread the final copy

Nothing more or less of that, and you will have your perfect ethical research paper. In this post, we will show some great moral issue research paper topics that you can choose from later.

Stay with me now as we explore these great ideas together. Remember to remain hawk-eyed lest you miss out on this once in a lifetime opportunity.

Prerequisite Steps to Choosing a Topic for an Ethics Research Paper

Before arriving at your topic, the following ideas will be useful:

  • Have a look at the available materials
  • Do critical thinking on the possible ideas
  • Choose one out of the many

It is vital to ensure that your topic is original to avoid running into plagiarism claims. Furthermore, a brief problem will attract readers at first sight. The word length of the topic matters. Very great topics are a huge turn off to most readers; therefore, keep it short and to the point.

50 Ethical Issues Topics for a Research Paper

We shall tackle them according to subcategories so that you do not get confused along the way. Here we go then.

Ethical Hacking Research Paper Topics

  • Goals of security in ethical hacking
  • World’s most significant data breaches
  • Viruses and malware to watch out for in 2023
  • Assessing an organization’s vulnerability to cyber attacks
  • How much time should an organization perform a backup every day?
  • A case study of the qualitative risk assessment methods
  • Disadvantages of black-box testing
  • Does ethical hacking exist?
  • How did ethical hacking come to be?
  • Ethical hacking: Is it worth it?

Ethical Leadership Research Paper Topics

  • Ethical leadership: The barriers to successful leadership
  • The place of moral leadership in corrupt countries
  • Rethinking ethical leadership in the 21st century
  • Impact of Leadership courses on ethical leading
  • How a teacher’s ethical behavior impacts students
  • Is ethical leadership practiced in universities?
  • Ethical leadership and employee relationships
  • A case study of companies practicing ethical leadership and their performance
  • Leadership lessons from Nelson Mandela: A case study
  • A review of the relationship between moral and relational leadership

Ethical Egoism Research Paper Topics

  • A comparison between ethical Egoism versus virtue ethics
  • Ethical Egoism: A philosophical position
  • Crime and Ethical Egoism
  • Contrast between Ethical Egoism and Psychological Egoism
  • Impact of ethical Egoism in business
  • Thoughtful commentary on ethical Egoism
  • Ethics and morality compared
  • What is Ethical Egoism and What it Is Not
  • A study of ethical egoism theories
  • Contribution of a song to ethical egoism theory

Controversial Ethical Topics for Research Paper

  • Is plastic surgery ethical?
  • The impact of capital punishment on primary human rights
  • Why genetic cloning is not to be pursued in the future
  • Is abortion legal or illegal?
  • Is human trafficking justified in any law?
  • How safe is animal testing for humans?
  • Is genetic cloning interfering with Mother Nature?
  • Impact of ethnic adoption on a child’s development
  • Are pills doing us more harm than good?
  • Is a person justified to take his or her life?

Interesting Ethical Issues Topics for Research Paper

  • What is the ethical impact of organ donation?
  • The view of Catholicism on homosexuality
  • Should we help strangers anywhere whenever we meet them?
  • Should there be rich and poor people in the same country?
  • Should newspapers and televisions show pictures of caskets?
  • Should people leave their contact information at entrances?
  • Who is responsible for the moral ethics of children: Parents or teachers?
  • Should you report a close family friend involved in crime?
  • Are politicians free to make campaigns in church?
  • Is assisted suicide not the same as murder?

Ethics focuses on the shades of gray rather than black and white. Students should choose a research topic bearing in mind the implications carefully. The language used in an ethical research paper should also be prudent enough to prevent lawsuits.

Ethics Research Topics Are Here!

Ethical issues are all around us, and we cannot be ignorant of them. However, good ethical topics for a research paper require a keen eye on the student’s part. Haphazardness is not entertained in such an essay as it would amount to gross misconduct.

In case you are stranded with your ethical essay assignment, you could use a hand from our professional writing help services today.

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Ethical Research Paper Topics

27 May, 2022

14 minutes read

Author:  Josh Carlyle

Writing a research paper on ethics is not an easy task, especially if you do not possess excellent writing skills and do not like to contemplate controversial questions. But an ethics course is obligatory in all higher education institutions, and students have to look for a way out and be creative. When you find an […]

Ethical Research Paper Topics

Writing a research paper on ethics is not an easy task, especially if you do not possess excellent writing skills and do not like to contemplate controversial questions. But an ethics course is obligatory in all higher education institutions, and students have to look for a way out and be creative. When you find an appropriate research paper topic that is interesting to you, the process of writing will be much easier.

And in this article, we prepared for you the most popular ethical research paper topics. They will never be outdated and make creating a paper enjoyable.

Tips on How to Choose Ethical Research Paper Topics

A good paper topic is a key to successful research. Very often, students do not pay much attention to the research subject selection. They think that if it sounds understandable and there are not many words, then it’ll work for their paper. But in practice, the situation is different, and a sophisticated topic that was challenging to get at once appears to be a great issue for exploring and expressing a student’s own position.

There are thousands of ethics research paper topics on the web, and your professor may suggest you a list of such topics, but how to make the right choice? Here are a few useful tips that will help every student with the first stage of writing their ethics research paper.

Define Your Interests

Know what is interesting to you as a researcher and display your thoughts and views on an engaging topic in your paper. It may be medicine, ecology, finance, sociology, art, and other fields that are subjected to ethical analysis.

Do Your Research

Then you have to be attentive to ethical topics raised in social media, literature, newspapers, etc. Browse, read, and you will definitely find something that concerns you and can be further investigated in a research paper.

Brainstorm Topic Ideas

Once you come across some ideas to highlight in ethics research paper topics, analyze them by asking yourself specific questions. Make sure you have a strong opinion on the topic; is it of interest to you; is it relevant today; and if there are available resources for covering it properly.

Narrow the Topic Down

Finally, you should focus on a certain aspect of your ethics research paper topic. Speaking about an issue generally is not a good idea for successful research. Broad questions are even more challenging to cover than narrow ones as you can write a lot but do not know what to specify.

Simple Steps to Create Ethical Research Paper

Once you know how to choose research paper topics connected to ethics, now it’s time to learn a guide on writing the work. These easy steps will lead you to create your ethics paper successfully.

Outline the paper

Before starting your ethics research paper, create an outline of your future paper, including all essential elements. Firstly you should prove the topic you cover is essential for consideration nowadays. Present a thesis and its supporting arguments. These must also be counterarguments you reply to in your paper, proving the rightfulness of your thesis statement. Finally, summarize your research, specifying its significance.

Stick to a paper structure

Your research paper should consist of an introduction, body paragraphs, methodology, findings, discussion, conclusion, and references. There are special phrases to start your work effectively and formal linking words. Each paragraph must include one argument to represent them clearly. Ensure all the arguments have supporting evidence from ethical sources.

Edit and add final touches

At the editing and proofreading stage, you should be attentive to all details. Use special tools for checking your grammar and spelling, take a rest before rereading your paper or ask friends. When you are tired, you can omit some mistakes or make unnecessary changes.

Ethical Questions to Discuss

With so many ethical research paper topics, the choice may be tough, as it should be suitable for discussion, giving arguments, and counterarguments. You can resort to analyzing major ethical issues for a classroom discussion. Write a paper on how you define ethics and what its role and importance are. There is also an option to connect ethics with a specific profession. Speak about whether you consider yourself and our society ethical.

What are the means for making people behave more ethically? There are also ethical approaches, philosophers, and their studies to cover in your paper. It will also be a win-win solution to touch upon the issue of ethical egoism in your research. Discussion themes include the global pandemic, enslaving, honesty, poverty, dictatorship, vegetarianism, and more.

Easy Ethical Research Topics

Students always want to go the easy way, and ethical research paper topics can help them with that. If you want to conduct research easily, select a topic that is close to your interests and views. Generally, medical ethics topics are not simple to study, but if you study medicine or are curious about such issues, do not hesitate to write about them.

Students do not find it challenging to investigate the following themes: bad habits, organic food, plagiarism, social media, advanced technology, managing obesity, depression, air pollution, etc. What is easy for one person may seem an insurmountable task for another, so know your preferences and choose your favorite topic.

Controversial Ethical Research Topics

Controversial ethics research paper topics attract students due to the chance to express their solid standing on a view. By researching a provocative theme, you show your knowledge and creativity on issues that humanity struggles to solve correctly.

If you feel that this theme will bring you much benefit in refining your debating skills and defending your position, explore controversial issues. You can write about gun control, politics, abortion, black lives matter, immigration, and marihuana legalization, which will help you show you are a clear-headed thinker. A writer should identify two opposite perspectives on the question and choose their stance.

You can research adoption, homeschooling, suicide, plastic surgery, etc., in your ethics paper.

Business-Related Ethical Research Topics

There are plenty of ethical research paper topics on business and management. You can find a top-notch theme easily if you identify what business sphere attracts you the most. Today, business plays a crucial role in society and the global arena. So there will be no problems doing research on a fresh business theme.

While there are numerous research papers written in this field, there are still uninvestigated angles. Choosing the right topic will expand your knowledge on the subject and help you get a high grade. You can start by brainstorming business ethics’ relevance in modern society. And then narrow it down to study certain concepts.

These are the following business topic ideas: cryptocurrency, employee monitoring, corporate governance, utilitarianism, universal income, or corporate sustainability.

Environmental Ethical Research Topics

Nowadays, environmental ethics topics are quite popular among researchers. People care more about the environment and try to do their best to save our planet. But very often, different issues arise on the way to an eco-friendly future that should be investigated. There are multiple environmental ethics topics that include the environmental ethics of a particular administration that will look fresh and relevant for researchers worldwide.

Other issues to cover concern global warming, corporate ethical responsibility, deep ecology, and pollution. It’ll be interesting to experiment with writing a paper on the eco-feminist approach to solving environmental problems. Choose a controversial environmental ethical theme and study ethical justification and critique of vegetarianism. Explore environmental harm to indigenous people, ethics of using animals for entertainment, farming, research, etc.

Ethical Leadership Research Topics

Leadership ethics topics are of interest to many students conducting ethical research. It is an important issue in the workplace, so everyone should be aware of ethical leadership issues. When writing an ethics research paper on leadership, a student should know ethical leadership principles, namely honesty, integrity, community, justice, and respect, to have a basic understanding of the concept.

Now we will explore ethics research paper topics for you to explore in your paper. They include ethical leadership roles, relational leadership concepts, employee relations, productivity, organizational performance, Nelson Mandela as a bright leadership example, etc. It will be great to investigate if ethical leadership affects successful leadership.

Biomedical Research Paper Topics

Students choosing medical ethics topics make a huge contribution to the research field. Biomedics is a widespread issue for consideration, and every unique opinion plays a huge role. At first sight, the research on cloning or genetic engineering may seem too complicated. But when you study the basics, you will be able to write a quality, original paper. When choosing biomedical ethics topics, consider their relevance as science is evolving and discoveries appear continuously.

So keep pace with the latest news in this field and explore biomedical ethics topics to cover in your research, such as cloning issues, organ donation ethics, organ transplantation problem, discrimination in care, health disclosure question, organ trafficking, AIDS discrimination, animal research, etc.

The Ethical Dilemma as a Research Topic

An ethical dilemma is a controversial topic for research when it’s required to make a hard choice between two possible options. It can seem that they both are good or, on the contrary, bad, and the right decision is impossible. However, ethical dilemma topics develop a person’s critical thinking and ability to solve an issue based on ethical values. You probably know such a popular trolley dilemma that was deeply investigated, but it is still challenging for a person to decide the morality of killing one person to save five lives.

When researching ethical dilemmas, a writer should choose a justice or relationship perspective for approaching the issue. Let’s find some more ethical dilemma topics: abortion, euthanasia, religious beliefs, transplantation, medical errors, nazism, etc.

Ethics Topics to Make a Presentation

When creating an ethics research paper, students are supposed to present it to the audience. So the topic you choose must be easy to use for a presentation and visualize. There should be lots of quality visual supporting material for an engaging presentation. Do not forget that your presentation should be informative but, at the same time, not overwhelmed with textual data.

A creative topic encourages a student to do thorough research and present it in a visually appealing form. So explore popular ethical research paper topics for a presentation that includes LGBT discrimination, genetic cloning, racism, immigration, feminism, sexism, fur & leather cloth wearing, etc.

How to Find a Reliable Writing Service

Writing a paper on ethics may be easy for some students, but many often find it hard to find time for research. You can select a good research theme that is of interest to you, but you cannot do it yourself for some reason. Then writing services will provide you with academic support.

And if you face a dilemma about what service to choose as there is an abundance of professional essay writer platforms, pay attention to the following tips.

Variety of writing services and topics

A professional company provides multiple services and has expert writers in different fields. They need to be certified and have experience in creating papers on certain topics. They should know well the instructions for writing academic works of any kind. Their writing styles should include MLA, APA, Harvard, and Chicago. In such a way, the academic writing platform will perform a quality ethics research paper.

It is crucial that a writing service you choose gives their clients guarantees on money back, plagiarism-free works, and free revisions. They should return you money for the paper if it doesn’t comply with the instructions and requirements. You can check the paper, ask for editing and improve some aspects of the writing process for fourteen days after the work completion. This data is available in their terms and conditions.

Positive testimonials

When looking for a service to make a research paper, make sure it has many satisfied clients. Read reviews and find if the company sticks to deadlines and provides high-quality papers. Testimonials can also tell you how the service treats its clients, if it has good customer support, and generally whether it is safe.

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ETHICS TERM PAPER

Profile image of Lutho Mbabane

2023, Lutho Mbabane

This is a term paper about whether a leader's morality is a matter of what they do in their public role or also in their personal life. This paper also identifies and explains two issues with leadership in South Africa at any level of governance or business. Belatedly, it then offers ethical solutions to these problems.

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South Africa is a society emerging from a chequered and troubled past with a legacy ofimpairments in terms of education skills, opportunities, resentments, equality andperceptions. As in many societies, corruption is recognized as a major hindrance to goodgovernance in the public sector. The South African government has prompted the publicsector to focus on anti-corruption measures as part of their mechanisms to prevent andcurb corruption. It is evident that these mechanisms are insufficient to prevent and curbcorruption, due to poor governance practices, such as weakness and gaps in legislation.Furthermore, the public sector has seen that there are unethical and even toxic leaders,who exploit the loopholes in the systems and processes and seek to fulfil their personaldesires at the expense of their departments. It is therefore argued that there is increasinglya need for ethical leadership in the public sector. This article therefore suggests the need forethical leadership to preven...

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Una, Frank Uzochukwu

Frank Uzochukwu

Africa has been affected by the global crisis in relation to the extent to which it integrated into the world economy. African governments have responded to the international economic crisis by using their strengths, fiscal opportunities, the financial regulatory framework and the resourcefulness of labour and institutions. The paper both discusses Africa in general and South Africa as a case study. In the latter, there is detailed discussion of some dilemmas being faced, the political and developmental context and the measures being faced and being planned. Apart from examining the initiatives to control the impact of the global crisis, the paper explores the necessity for ethical leadership to be focused upon, since it affects the success of such initiatives in achieving their desired outcomes. The financial crisis has provoked an examination of the values underpinning public service delivery. Since African states are ranked quite high on the global list of most corrupt nations in the world, this article argues that the global crisis will place greater strains on leadership, which is already under widespread concern in the public sector because of the frequent reports of unethical practices. Therefore, it becomes imperative for the responses to the global crisis to take cognizance of the need for sustainable ethical leadership during implementation to avoid exacerbation of problems currently associated with leadership in Africa. The paper further examines current challenges facing ethical leadership in the African public sector and the need for more effective measures underpinning ethical leadership necessitated by the global crisis. The implications for educational and training institutions are briefly discussed. A key conclusion is that the state has an important role to play in dealing with the crisis. To do so effectively, ethical issues need to be fully addressed.

Dr. Tafadzwa. C . Maramura

G Naidoo Department of Public Administration and Management University of South Africa Corruption is recognised as a major hindrance to good governance in the South African (SA) public sector. The government has prompted the public sector to focus on anti-corruption measures as part of their mechanisms to prevent and curb corruption. Some departments have considered these controls. However, it is evident that these mechanisms are insufficient to prevent and curb corruption, due to poor governance practices, such as weakness and gaps in legislation. Furthermore, the public sector has seen that there are unethical and even toxic leaders, who exploit the loopholes in the systems and processes and seek to fulfil their personal desires at the expense of their departments. It is therefore argued that there is increasingly a need for ethical leadership in the public sector. This article therefore suggests the need for ethical leadership to prevent and curb corruption and to promote good go...

Dr. Zamokuhle Mbandlwa

Article History Article Received: 11 May 2020 Revised: 19 May 2020 Accepted: 29 May 2020 Publication: 12 June 2020 Abstract: Ethical leadership challenges in South Africa led to corruption in various government departments. Corruption is the results of poor ethics in leadership which results in poor public service delivery. In this paper we argued that in order to end corruption in South Africa government, the issue of leadership ethics must first be prioritized. The objective of this study was to identify factors that contribute to poor public service delivery and to examine the correlation between bad leadership and poor public service delivery. The results of the study have proven that there is a link between leadership and service delivery. Poor public service delivery in South Africa is caused by poor leadership ethics in government leaders. Therefore, the combination of poor leadership and poor public service delivery affect the daily lives of people in South Africa.

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K.R. Chauke , France K H U T S O L A V H E L A N I Kgobe

This paper aims to explore the potency of ethical frameworks in the advent of a democratic dispensation in State-Owned Enterprises in an attempt to address conundrums of unethical leadership and devastating public accountability. This paper argues that South Africa is grappling with fitting in the notion of ethos and accountability. On the same line, the contestation about the impasse of the State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) befits germane in the topical and constant political transformation in South Africa. SOEs endure eccentric to those serving it and those who benefit from it, leading to a lack of orthodoxy by public officials to ethical framework prescribed and contemplated in legislation for good conduct in public services. Ethical leadership and public accountability are two sides of the same coin; however, they serve as a nut and bolt of a well-functioning public administration. The two are inseparable. The paper is theoretical as such, and it is epistemologically juxtaposed and...

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This paper endeavours to critically examine ethics in South Africa especially after the first democratic elections and later developments. Such an analysis will inevitably overspill to the quality of service delivery and participation. As such there is a need for ethics to be re-examined and investigate how this may be used to improve efficiency and effectiveness in the South African government service. Much has been written on ethics and their relevance to the public sector organisations. Indeed they are critical for service delivery for both sectors namely, private and public sectors. This paper will trace the origins and development of ethics and their relationship with other associated terms such as morals, codes of conduct and relate same to the guidelines emanating from the South African Constitution Act (Act 108 of 1996). Once this objective has been achieved the position of ethics to our daily lives from individual and citizenship perspective will be explored. By such invest...

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How to Write a Personal Ethics Statement—And Why Every Professional Should

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ethics term paper

What is a Personal Ethics Statement?

Personal ethics are your guidelines for forming relationships, overcoming challenges, and decision- making. A personal ethics statement is a one-page essay that gives a picture of your core values and what potential supervisors, colleagues, or clients can expect from working with you. It can be useful when you’re applying for school , just starting out in your career, looking for a new job, trying to expand your client base, or advancing your career.  

In this article we will discuss personal ethics—which should not be mistaken for professional ethics. Personal ethics relate to the values you hold in personal relationships and daily life, an whereas professional ethics relate to how you conduct yourself in business settings, deals, and professional relationships.  

An important part of your personal ethics statement is identifying your personal beliefs and personal values. Some code of ethics examples include integrity, selflessness, honesty, loyalty, equality, fairness, empathy, respect, and self-respect. This article is a complete resource for forming your personal ethics and transforming them into a compelling personal ethics statement.

Professional Impacts of Personal Ethics

There are many occasions your personal ethics will play a role in your behavior in professional settings. No matter your line of work, it’s important that you maintain unshakable personal ethics in your professional relationships and how you interact in the workplace.

Business Ethics

Business ethics are the practices and policies put into place to ensure people and resources are treated ethically in business dealings. While you’re making decisions in business to benefit a company, you must consider the impact of those decisions on others. Developing your personal code of conduct will help support you in upholding your company policies in the workplace, which will help you maintain personal integrity, as well as avoid potential business scandals . Learn about how to be an ethical leader in a business setting.

With a career in information technology, part of your job involves having access to private or confidential information. Your moral compass plays a significant role in keeping this type of information safe, especially since cyber-attacks—which happen every 39 seconds on average—are so prevalent in modern society. Having a career in IT immerses you in the world of cyber security , where ethical behavior and policy adherence are essential.

Healthcare Ethics

In the healthcare field, you’re responsible for human lives, so it’s no wonder that strong professional competence and integrity are important in how you carry yourself at work. There are plenty of complex issues, regulations, and compliance policies that you’ll encounter in a hospital or care facility, which demands that you seek the guidance of your personal ethics.

Teaching Ethics

Strong moral values are a necessary component of being a teacher. When your job is to sculpt young minds, you have must take responsibility for setting a strong example for them. Part of this is keeping students safe, part of this is treating all students equally and without discrimination. Part of this is creating healthy boundaries between your students and your personal life . If you build a personal ethics statement, you have a north star to look towards in this professional setting as you encounter ethical dilemmas. If you’re planning to become a teacher, you should also consider writing a teaching philosophy statement.

ethics term paper

How Do I Write a Personal Ethics Statement?

There are five essential steps to writing—and perfecting—your personal ethics statement: 

1. Know your audience. 

The first step to writing an effective personal ethics statement is knowing and understanding the audience you’re writing for. This one-page piece of writing is supposed to influence the reader, so keeping the motivations and sentiments of your audience in mind while writing is important to completing your goal. Once you know your audience, whether it be an admissions counselor or a potential employer, then you can choose words and reference practices and policies that resonate with them and meet any guidelines in place.  

2. Choose your goals. 

There are two important types of goals to think about when building your personal ethics statement: your short-term and long-term goals. For example, your short-term goal may be getting into college, while your long-term goal is becoming a software engineer. Once you identify these, then you can phrase your personal ethics in terms of how they relate to your desired career path. To build off the previous example, if you aspire to be a software engineer, you can talk about personal ethics that relate to cyber security or the hard work required to get to your desired goal. 

3. Determine your influences. 

What influences the decisions you make? This is an essential step in determining your code of ethics because every choice you make is influenced by internal and external factors. One factor that affects everyone is personal traits. Your personality plays a crucial role in the decisions you make and how you carry yourself with others. Another factor is the people in your life who have helped in shaping who you are today. A third example is momentous events. Everyone experiences wonderful, pivotal moments in their life, as well as tragic and traumatic moments. All these factors play a role in your personal ethics, and they should be included in your personal ethics statement. 

4. Identify your beliefs and practices. 

This step is about writing down examples of how you move through the world and the core beliefs you live by. Compelling stories elicit emotional reactions from your audience and prove that you put your personal ethics into daily practice. Examples are essential to creating a strong personal ethics statement. 

5. Name your “why.”  

Why did you choose the ethical principles that you did? Confidently answering this question and providing details is essential to the authenticity of the statement. Decide why your personal ethics are important to you, how your life experiences brought you to those ethics, and how you’ll continue to keep them at the center of your decisions going forward. This step is important to making sure your audience walks away with a clear understanding of what ethical standards are important to you and why. 

What Should I Include in a Personal Ethics Statement?

Your personal ethics statement should consist of an introduction, a body, and a conclusion.  

Start your personal ethics statement with a one- to two-paragraph introduction. Use the introduction to talk about the life experiences that helped form your ethical background. Maybe you had a major injury in your childhood that resulted in lifelong ability differences, and this made you an advocate for accessibility. Find a personal story that will engage your reader and provide a foundation for your statement.

In the body of your personal ethics statement—about two or three paragraphs—you should list each of the ethical principles that are central in your life. This is your opportunity to make sure the reader knows your core beliefs. If you have a personal mantra, include it here. In this section, true life examples are your friend.

What Should I not Include in a Personal Ethics Statement?

Since a personal ethics statement is a deeply personal piece of writing, it’s important to be honest and authentic. The last thing you want to do is include fake life experiences just to make a point. This also isn’t an opportunity to profess all your life’s mistakes. You are human and your personal ethics statement should reflect that, but in a positive and inspiring light.  

How to Conclude

Every personal ethics statement should have a strong conclusion. Sum it all up in a final paragraph where you explain how your core values make you a great person to have in a professional organization or an excellent candidate for an academic program.

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185 ethics paper topics: choose your favourite.

Ethics Paper Topics

Are you a college student looking for ethical paper topics to write on? Well, make sure that whatever ethics paper topic you pick offers you ample scope to create an interesting write-up. However, more important than that, your topic should be able to grab your teacher’s attention and then should be covered in detail to get you good grades.

When writing on any of the ethics paper topics, it is important to remember that these topics must be handled with respect and sensitivity to others’ opinions as well. Your write-up should not be hurtful to a specific group or community and still offer ample arguments in favour or against the subject.

Here is a comprehensive bank of some of the most interesting and attention catching ethical topics to write about. Take a look:

Environmental Ethics Topics

Here are some ethics topics based on the subject of environmental awareness:

  • Are we morally bound to take initiatives for environmental conservation?
  • Is environment awareness a virtue?
  • Is it ethical to keep animals in circuses and zoos?
  • Are zoos any better for the animals than circuses?
  • How ethical or justified is the use of animal skin and fur?
  • Should the tanning and fur industry be banned or strictly regulated?
  • Should there be strict policies against polluting water bodies by the industries?
  • Should game hunting be banned completely across the world?
  • Is cutting of forests justified for setting up research centres for environmental protection?
  • Does landscaping and beautification of landfills with plants solve the problem of environmental pollution caused by waste?

Medical Ethics Topics

If you want to write your paper on medical ethics, here is a list of ethical topics to pick from:

  • Is it ethical to accept an executed felon’s organ?
  • Are suicides assisted by doctors moral and ethically correct?
  • Is it ethical to freeze women’s eggs for conception later?
  • Is surrogacy ethical?
  • Is uterus transplant ethical if it gives a woman the chance to carry her own baby?
  • Can doctors be considered ethical if they display the pictures of patients who have died?
  • Is it ethical to recycle medical equipment?
  • Is abortion morally upright?
  • Is it ethical to shop for the best egg to ensure desirable best traits in the child to be?
  • Should human genetic engineering be made legal?
  • Is it morally correct to do cloning of living beings like animals, birds, or eventually humans?
  • Should human embryos be used in genetic engineering research?
  • Is organ donation by a poor person for money considered ethical?
  • Why is gender determination ethical in some countries and unethical in others?
  • Are hospitals morally correct to sell medical supplies within their premises?

Business Ethics Paper Topics

Ethical issues topics related to the verticals of business and management are plenty:

  • What are the business ethics related to the sale of marijuana?
  • Is it morally correct to legalize the sale of marijuana?
  • Should an employer who does not believe in the need to use contraception be made to pay for the same for his/her employees?
  • Is utilitarianism ethically justified?
  • Can businesses generate positive responses on social media without eroding business ethics?
  • The ethical philosophy behind Bitcoin – an insight
  • Does Bitcoing border on being money laundering or does it offer lower costs to end users?
  • Is it ethical to promote a company’s CSR initiatives on social media?
  • Should an employee’s inappropriate social media presence be reason enough for the company to fire him?
  • Beauty industry and its ethical standpoint on extensive use of plastic?
  • Does being extremely rich automatically become unethical from certain perspectives?
  • Should you buy products of companies that privatise water?
  • Is online employee monitoring for behaviour ethical on the company’s behalf?
  • Is unequal wealth distribution unethical in the society?
  • Is it ethical to force companies through law to hire more women to promote gender equality?
  • Are businesses justified in having sexual exploitation laws for women but none for men?
  • What are the advantages and disadvantages of the concept of universal income?
  • How should businesses handle hate messages on social media?
  • Is it ethical to install surveillance to supervise employees in an office?
  • The ethical need to identify and correct workplace hazards.

Biomedical Ethics Topics

  • Should Ebola victims be quarantined? How ethical is it?
  • Should donation of organs upon death be made mandatory?
  • Is it the business of organ trafficking in developing countries the ethical responsibility of wealthy and developed countries?
  • CRISPR — the associated ethical responsibilities, an insight
  • Stem cell research — ethical problems an insight
  • Is it ethical to start using humans for drug testing?
  • Is it ethical to make vaccinations mandatory for all?
  • What are the ethics guiding medical workers?
  • Plastic surgery – harmful effects and the ethical standpoint
  • Is it morally correct to keep alive a brain dead person?
  • Is it ethical that the quality and duration of medical care be linked to a person’s economic status?
  • Mustn’t everyone be made a default organ donor?
  • For contagious disease patients what is more important — privacy or the at risk relative’s right to information?
  • Is it ethical to perform prenatal invasive testing?
  • Is it ethical to give neuroenhancement drugs?
  • Disclosure and Barring Service — an ethical discussion
  • How ethical is the enhancement of memory function through brain stimulation?
  • Precision medicine — an analysis of the concerning ethical issues
  • Surrogacy — associated ethical issues
  • Is it ethical on part of a medical professional to collect a deceased person’s healthy tissues without prior consent?

Ethics topics in nursing

Take a look at some impressive ethical topics for papers:

  • Is it ethical to bid for your healthcare provider?
  • Was it ethical to offer treatment to American Ebola patients while others did not get it?
  • Is it mandatory to give flu shots to kids?
  • Should it be made legal to use drugs personally?
  • Placing the elderly in care centers — whose call should it be?
  • The ethical insight into the pressures on the nursing staff to complete their autonomy.
  • The nursing staff has no autonomy over patient treatment; is it ethical?
  • Personal rights Vs Nursing ethics — what to pick?
  • Why is it morally correct/incorrect to place nursing staff as subjugates to doctors and legal provisions to break it?
  • Laws that help nurses overcome doctor dominance and practice autonomy — how justified are they?

Computing Ethics Topics

  • Is the imposition of mass surveillance justified?
  • New software development — an insight into associated social responsibility.
  • Is it ethical to remove offensive content from the Internet? Who decides what is offensive?
  • What situations make it ethical to sabotage someone’s computer?
  • Internet — which ethical problems does it raise?
  • Job automation — are there associated moral problems?
  • Media downloads from the internet and related ethical concerns.
  • Drones and the associated ethical conflicts?
  • How much dependence on computers is correct?
  • The dangers of putting important data online — loss is whose ethical responsibility?
  • How secure are computers to store such volumes of our information?
  • Privacy Vs easy accessibility how and what to choose?
  • Is ethical hacking really ethical?
  • Do computers address privacy concerns satisfactorily?
  • Online data distribution is whose ethical responsibility?
  • How ethical is charging for software?
  • Why are ethics boards required in tech companies?
  • Computer crimes — are they less harmful as compared to crimes against humans?
  • Is it legitimate to possess a patent for a computer algorithm?
  • Cyberbullying — ethical concerns and prevention?
  • Facial recognition systems and their unethical racial bias
  • The ethical impact of anonymity on internet users.
  • Online rights protection — which laws apply?
  • Is hacking ever considered ethical?
  • Is the lack of computerized infrastructure in poor nations an ethical question to be answered by the developed nations?
  • Artificial Intelligence and the associated ethical problems
  • Computer mistakes — whose ethical responsibility is it?
  • What is ideal netiquette?
  • What are the best ways to deal with tech ethical problems?
  • Is ethical behaviour possible to ensure through AI algorithms?

Ethics presentation topics

  • Psychological/ethical egoism — for and against arguments.
  • Do a person’s ethics change by believing in God?
  • Does culture or society affect morals?
  • Is the issue of hunger in underdeveloped countries a moral responsibility of developed countries?
  • Ethics of feminism — issues related to freedom and equality vs traditional values
  • Sexism at the workplace — how ethics need to be defined
  • Racism – an ethical injustice
  • Are discriminations against LGBT+ people justified?
  • Refugees – is it always the ethical concern of governments?
  • Should past mistakes of modern nations still be held against them?

Ethical argument topics

The following are some great ethical arguments topics for your essay:

  • Racial profiling — is it moral?
  • Should books from killers be published?
  • Is it morally correct for a father to keep alive a brain-dead mother so that the fetus can be incubated?
  • Does the level of education influence a person’s morality?
  • Should the future of technological advancements be discussed with philosophers as well?
  • Is it ethical to punish protests by students?
  • Are low moral standards punishable?
  • Pet operations vs Investing in healthcare in developing countries? Which is ethically more deserving?
  • Designer babies – the ethics behind the concept.
  • Does feminism oppose religion?
  • Is the disadvantaged position enjoyed by black Americans a responsibility of the white Americans?
  • Is war ever ethical?
  • If drug use was made legal, would it become ethical?
  • Having children and their carbon impact.
  • How is state control of the press ethically justified?
  • Teaching religion at school – is it morally correct?
  • Is it correct to keep a watch on kids’ internet activities?
  • If ever you caused an accident that had no witnesses, would you report it?
  • Is censoring hate speeches on social media ethical?
  • When a patient refuses treatment that could save his life due to religious reasons what is the role of the doctor?
  • If a client’s political/religious views are opposite of yours is it ethical to refuse?
  • Is it ethical to promote something you do not believe in for money?
  • Is lying for a job that takes you out of a poor lifestyle justified?
  • Would you cheat on your partner to take revenge if they had cheated on you earlier?
  • Is it ethical to ask back a loan from a friend if they are still not financially stable but you have a need?

Ethics discussion topics

Here is a list of ethics topics that offer ample scope for classroom discussion:

  • Is it ethical to legalize marijuana for public use?
  • Should a divorcee be allowed to use an embryo?
  • Free will – Should it be reconsidered?
  • Covid-19 — Ethical questions and response to the global pandemic
  • Are ethics morally enslaving people?
  • Can ethics be violated for a larger good — critical evaluation of Machiavelli’s ideas.
  • Is charity everyone’s moral obligation?
  • Is charity the moral obligation of rich people only?
  • Are we morally obliged to be honest?
  • Are democratic countries morally obliged to overthrow dictatorship?
  • Have we achieved equality through feminism?
  • Is it ethical to categorize the ageing as senior citizens?
  • Is eating meat ethically justified?
  • Is it correct to post pictures of someone on social media if they do not use them?
  • If your teacher mocks a classmate regularly should you speak up?
  • Will you let your son wear dresses to a family gathering if he likes to?
  • Will you happily attend your daughter’s wedding to another woman?
  • Is termination of pregnancy after discovering disability in prenatal testing justified?
  • Should you relocate if your partner from a long-term relationship moves to another city due to a job?
  • Is it ethical to quit your long term treatment if it is a financial burden on the family?

Applied ethics topics

  • Is death penalty ethical?
  • Can we categorize people as evil or good?
  • Can religion and science go hand in hand?
  • Which is the most convincing theory that explains the drivers of human behavior aptly?
  • Is the use of cognition enhancing drugs ethical?
  • What makes the use of performance enhancing steroids unethical in sports?
  • Should we use products involving child labor?
  • Should moral failure lead to legal consequences?
  • Is patriotism always ethical and virtuous?
  • Do we have enough poliicies to prevent discrimination?
  • Is scientific testing of animals ethical?
  • Will you tell your close family friend if his partner and your best friend was cheating on him?
  • How do ethics play a role in making us accept undesirable or ugly gifts as well?
  • If certain vegan products are produced in extremely difficult conditions will you buy them being a vegan?
  • Will you return a borrowed gun back to a mentally depressed relative?

If you are looking for professional assistance to select impressive titles, or need ideas for your research paper or are looking for affordable help with a research paper get in touch with us today. We offer high quality thesis help to college students at cheap prices that suit every budget. Connect online to ask for a sample or see the examples published on our website to get an idea about our work quality. We look forward to working with you.

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Innovation Responds to Climate Change Proposals

  • Original Paper
  • Published: 02 September 2024

Cite this article

ethics term paper

  • Greg Tindall 1 ,
  • Rebel A. Cole 2 &
  • David Javakhadze   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0003-1580-6309 3  

Climate change is an ethical and moral challenge of a global scale due to its potentially catastrophic implications for human welfare. Understanding forces that drive corporate adaptation to climate change is an important research topic in business ethics. In this paper, we propose that shareholder climate-related proposals could be a catalyst for corporate innovations in technologies mitigating climate change. Our results, based on the analysis of US firms, indicate that corporations respond positively to these proposals by producing more climate-related patents and citations. We also uncover potential casual channels of influence. Further, we find that corporate governance moderates the documented effects. These proposals lead to a more efficient and valuable innovation output, but lower firm performance in the short term. The real effect that shareholder proposals have on innovation gains clarity in the context of climate change, contributing to the discussion of investor “voice.”

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Data availability

The data that has been used is confidential, from restricted-access sources.

Xiao and Shailer ( 2022 ) provide a novel systematic investigation of factors influencing stakeholders’ perceptions of the credibility of corporate sustainability reports.

What are shareholder proposals, and what makes them interesting? Established in 1942 (and amended several times), Rule 14a-8 was designed to give small shareholders a voice and managers ample opportunity to listen before being heard at annual meetings. The Rule now permits a shareholder to make a proposal of 500 words or less, if any of the following ownership amount and time requirements are met: 1) at least $2,000 in market value for at least three years; 2) or at least $15,000 for at least two years; 3) or at least $25,000 for at least one year. The proposal must be received at the company’s principal executive offices not less than 120 calendar days before the release of company's annual proxy statement, with shareholder intent to maintain the requisite interest through the annual meeting. For more formation, please see the Code of Federal Regulations, (Title 17, Volume 3, Sect. 240.14a-8, www.govinfo.gov ).

Theoretical perspectives on management’s response to stakeholder demands are influenced by corporate purpose.

Literature presents opposing views: Friedman’s ( 1970 ) profit-focused shareholder priority versus Stout’s ( 2013 )

inclusive stakeholder approach considering broader goals. See discussion on the subject in Clarke ( 2020 ).

The climate-related proposals to Chevron reflect this shift in emphasis toward a direct assessment of financial risk, from one of simple emission disclosure. From 1999 to 2009, requests for a “Report on Greenhouse Gas Emissions” were recurrent. Beginning in 2010, Chevron saw “Stockholder Proposals Regarding Financial Risks from Climate Change.”

Two examples from the 2016 proxy season highlight shareholder demands for innovation. Shareholders of Ameren Corp proposed “ITEM (4): SHAREHOLDER PROPOSAL RELATING TO A REPORT ON AGGRESSIVE RENEWABLE ENERGY ADOPTION.” Shareholders in AES Corp sponsored “PROPOSAL 4: A REPORT ON COMPANY POLICIES AND TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES” targeting the firm’s energy policies and emphasis on renewable sources.

In 2010, St. Joseph of the Capuchin Order requested a study “on how ExxonMobil, within a reasonable timeframe, can become the recognized industry leader in developing and making available the necessary technology (such as enhanced sequestration, engineered geothermal and the development of other renewable energy sources) to enable the U.S.A. to become energy independent in an environmentally sustainable way. By 2017, The New York State Common Retirement Fund sponsored the climate proposal that gained substantial press coverage, which essentially made a similar request: “…an annual assessment of the long-term portfolio impacts of technological advances and global climate change policies…” Further, the Board for Fluor Corporation has stated its opposition to repeated proposals from 2016 to 2018 requesting GHG reduction goals, by “Creating Technology to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions,” more specifically, by investing in NuScale Power, LLC along with Rolls-Royce.

We emphasize that climate-friendly boards and heightened managerial perceptions of climate risk are potential mechanisms. We argue that shareholder proposals positively influence these factors. However, we acknowledge without direct demonstration that these mechanisms, in turn, enhance innovations, considering them as established facts based on prior research (Homroy and Slechten, 2019 ; Sautner et al., 2023 ).

We considered using alternate terms such as “greenhouse gases” or “carbon emissions,” but due to the content of the DEF14A filing, it is not possible to ensure that a term appears directly within a shareholder proposal or management’s response to one without visual inspection, thus hand-collection. Often, the proposals are only a small portion of the DEF14A which often presents year-end results at the annual meeting. Further, word lists invariably subject samples to gaming. “Climate Change” has fairly unambiguous meaning to management and is the phrase used by both the SEC and USPTO.

We also consider that firm innovation may not have a perfect memory of a pressure over the past 25 years of all proposals related to climate change. For robustness, we construct the same three-year, backward average but for only the last three years as well as the last five years. The results that follow remain unchanged. We also use lagged proposals as a proxy for shareholder pressure on climate-related issues for additional robustness, and our main findings are qualitatively similar. These results are not reported for brevity but are presented in online Appendix 1 .

In fact, of the 1.9 million patents we examine from 1994 to 2019, only 8 begin with the Y02 classification, even though 105,737 patents contain the Y02 classification in the CPC coding scheme. For example, patent 5,426,677 appears to be primarily concerned with Physics, the G classification, (G21C1/09; G21C17/00; G21Y2002/202; G21Y2002/204; G21Y2004/304; Y02E30/40), but also has a Climate Mitigation (Y02) component. Disentangling truncation bias by year-technology for the Y02 classification is not feasible for this paper. Further, from our discussions with the USPTO, the first classification tends to be more dominant than the last.

In unreported results, we also construct dependent variables looking forward five years to allow more time for the stockholder pressure to influence innovative behavior.

As Wooldridge ( 2012 ) explains, “sometimes log(1 + y) is used, but interpretation of the coefficients is difficult.” (p. 216) However, this practice is commonplace in corporate finance settings. For robustness, the inverse hyperbolic sine (IHS), as suggested by Burbidge et al. ( 1988 ) and proposed by Johnson ( 1949 ), for zero-value observations is used to log transform both the logged dependent variables and the independent variable of interest, Pressure . The IHS transformation is sinh-1(x) = log(x + (× 2 + 1)1/2). The results using IHS for OLS regressions suggest that the coefficients tend to overstate the economic impact of models (3) and (6) of Table  2 as well as models with Y02 Counts pct and Y02 Cites pct as dependent variables, while understate the coefficients of models with Y02 Top 1 pct and Y02 Top 10 pct as dependent variables (Appendix B ), but the statistical inference remains unchanged in sign or significance.

The Pope’s sentiment also intuitively satisfies the exclusion restriction as it is unlikely to directly influence corporate innovations. To gain some reassurance on the (notorious) exclusion restriction, we divide the sample along the lines of Religious Social Capital considered by Rupasingha et al. ( 2006 ) and obtained from the U.S. Census Bureau’s number of establishments in religious organizations (NAICS 813110), also examined by Grennan ( 2022 ) along with other donor-advised funds. In splitting the sample between More and Less Religious at the county level, we find that firms headquartered in less religious counties have a more acute influence on climate innovations when the Pope serves as an instrument. We would expect the Pope to have a stronger influence in more religious counties, if the Pope were directly influencing management to develop climate technologies and bypassing proposals made by shareholders who are not concentrated near headquarters. Since we find the opposite, we feel better about the exclusion restriction, instead of relying only on our (notorious) intuitions for justification.

We implement causal mediation analysis using the ivmediate command in Stata (e.g., Dippel, Ferrara, and Heblich, 2020 ), allowing us to estimate the treatment effect and determine the proportion attributable to a mediator. The primary advantage, as noted, is that despite both the treatment and mediator being endogenous, a single instrument can accurately detect both causal treatment and mediation effects. However, the method does not produce the first-stage result of the IV regression. Instead, it reports the F-test of excluded instruments directly from the first stage to assess instrument strength, which suffices to establish validity. In our models, detailed in Table  4 , the F-tests from the first stage across all models greatly exceed the conventional cutoff value of 10, ensuring the validity of the instrument. Nevertheless, we manually performed IV regressions and confirmed that our instrument, PopeUS, significantly and positively affects both Pressure and mediators.

In the results, not tabulated for brevity, we re-estimate the same model as in Panel A but with firm fixed effects. We find significant causal mediation effects of Pressure on Y02 Counts that pass through Ind Dir Exp. In parallel to Panel B, we re-estimated the same model with firm fixed effects using CC Bigrams as a mediator and found nearly full mediation. Additionally, we detected marginal mediation in the model with Y02 Cites as a dependent variable using CC Bigrams as a mediator, but not Ind Dir Exp. Thus, the results of firm fixed effects analysis are more suggestive in this case.

We also perform robustness checks of our mediation analysis using alternative measures of shareholder proposals (three-year backward averages for the last three and five years, and lagged proposals). We find statistically significant mediation in all cases, with the mediated effect ranging from 0.54 to 0.91 of the total effect. We also limit the sample to firms that have ever received a proposal related to climate change during our sample period and find the proportion of the total effect mediated varies from 0.62 to 0.74 of the total effect. Finally, using the percentage of votes at the annual meetings in favor of a climate-related proposal collected by ISS (ISS Vote For), the mediated effect ranges from 0.83 to 0.90 of the total effect. We estimate these models using industry fixed effects, with industries identified using 3-digit SIC codes. Overall, our results are in line with our main findings.

To ensure our results are not due to selection of matching estimator, we also employ entropy balancing, nearest neighbor, propensity score, and the CEM (Blackwell et al., 2009 ) and find our results to be robust. The main advantage of EBCT, of course, is that it allows us to match on our continuous treatment variable ( Pressure ), instead of a binary one required for the other estimators.

We note that, following the approach of Faleye et al., ( 2014 ), we also examined the short-term performance implications of the change in patent counts attributable to shareholder climate-related proposals. That is, we regress our performance metrics on predicted patent counts as well as patent cites, where the predicted values are from the regression of innovation variables in our shareholder proposal measures. Our findings remain consistent.

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Appendix a: description of variables and sources.

Variables

Description

Source

Innovation

  

 Y02 counts

The average, from t + 1 to t + 3, of the natural log of one plus the number of patents with the Y02 classification for each firm by the date the patent is filed, adjusted for truncation bias

 Y02 cites

The average, from t + 1 to t + 3, of the natural log of one plus the number of patent citation with the Y02 classification for each firm by the date the patent is filed, adjusted for truncation bias

Climate-related proposals

 

 Pressure

The average, from t to t-2, of the natural log of one plus running total of the number of climate-related proposals that a firm receives over entire sample period: (1) by allowing the running total to equal zero in years where no climate proposals appear at an annual meeting and (2) by resuming the running total when proposals resurface at subsequent annual meetings

SEC’s Edgar website and SeekEdgar cloud technology

Controls

  

 Size

The average, from t to t-2, of the natural log of one plus total revenues

Compustat

 R&D/assets

The average, from t to t-2, of Research and development expense divided by beginning assets

Compustat

 Tobin’s Q

The average, from t to t-2, of Tobin’s Q, calculated as the Market Value of Equity minus the Book Value of Equity plus Book Value of Assets divided by Book Value of Assets

Perfect & Wiles, ; Baker, Wurgler and Stein, 2003

 Firm Age

The average, from t to t-2, of the natural log of one plus the number of years that a firm is listed in Compustat

Compustat

 Revenue growth

The average, from t to t-2, of the change in revenues from the end of each year

Compustat

 Stock return

The average, from t to t-2, of the annual change in the adjusted stock price

Compustat

 Leverage

The average, from t to t-2, of total Liabilities divided by total Assets

Compustat

 Cash surplus

The average, from t to t-2, of Cash Surplus, calculated as the net cash from operations minus depreciation plus research and development scaled by total assets

Compustat

Appendix B: Shareholder Climate-Related Proposals and Corporate Innovations—Alternative Models

This table shows the results of ordinary least square regressions with Innovation as the dependent variable based on the patent data by date filed with the US Patent Office containing the Y02 (climate change). In Columns (1)–(4), dependent variables are Y02 Count Pct —the percent of a firm’s Y02 patents in a given year relative to all of that firm’s patents filed in the same year, Y02 Cite Pct —the percent of a firm’s Y02 patent citations in a given year relative to all of that firm’s patent citations filed in the same year, Y02 Top 1—the natural log of one plus the number of Y02 patents whose citations were in the top 1 percent of all Y02 patents in a given year, Y02 Top 10 —the natural log of one plus the number of Y02 patents whose citations were in the top 10 percent of all Y02 patents in a given year, respectively. Pressure is the natural log of one plus a three-year, backward average of an accumulated total of the climate-related shareholder proposals that a firm has received from 1994 to 2019. The control variables are also averaged over three years and include Size, R&D, Tobin’s Q, Age, Revenue Growth, Stock Returns, Leverage and Cash Surplus, as defined in Appendix A. t-statistic, based on robust standard errors, adjusted for heteroskedasticity and clustered at the industry-year level, are reported in brackets below the coefficients. ***, **, and * indicate significance at the 1%, 5%, and 10% level, respectively

 

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

 

Y02 counts pct

Y02 cites pct

Y02 top 1 pct

Y02 top 10 pct

Pressure

0.028***

0.025**

0.04**

0.084**

 

(2.808)

(2.294)

(2.421)

(2.497)

Size

0.008***

0.009***

0.013***

0.024***

 

(4.676)

(4.791)

(2.719)

(2.619)

R&D/Assets

− 0.055**

− 0.043

− 0.147

0.467*

 

(− 2.213)

(− 1.482)

(− 1.25)

(1.876)

Tobin's Q

0.001**

− 0.001

− 0.001

− 0.004

 

(2.448)

(− 1.121)

(− 0.48)

(− 0.754)

Age

0.007

0.016***

0.024**

0.149***

 

(1.33)

(2.628)

(2.183)

(4.091)

Sales Growth

0.002**

0.002**

0.002*

0.005**

 

(2.215)

(2.219)

(1.683)

(2.172)

Stock Return

0.002

0.003*

0.005

0.007

 

(1.077)

(1.697)

(1.552)

(0.996)

Leverage

− 0.003

0.000

− 0.015*

− 0.067***

 

(− 0.761)

(− 0.049)

(− 1.862)

(− 2.826)

Cash Surplus

− 0.014

− 0.012

− 0.014

− 0.078

 

(− 1.149)

(− 0.823)

(− 0.473)

(− 1.119)

Obs

13,527

13,527

13,527

13,527

R-squared

0.666

0.644

0.663

0.845

Firm FE

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Year FE

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Industry-year FE

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

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Tindall, G., Cole, R.A. & Javakhadze, D. Innovation Responds to Climate Change Proposals. J Bus Ethics (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-024-05808-7

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Published : 02 September 2024

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