ONLINE FIRST
published on March 16, 2022
Michael S. Pritchard, Sandra L. Borden
https://doi.org/10.5840/tej2022315105
In Support of a ¡°Generalist¡± Orientation for an Ethics Center
Western Michigan University¡¯s Center for the Study of Ethics in Society has always had a ¡°generalist¡± approach¡ªthat is to say, an interdisciplinary orientation toward studying a broad range of ethical issues. This article explains how the center¡¯s ¡°generalist¡± orientation developed and why it is desirable for promoting public reflection about ethical issues. It focuses on these dimensions: (a) valuing an across-the-curriculum approach to promote understanding of complex ethical issues; (b) adopting a broad, rather than narrow focus, when it comes to ethics; (c) committing to practical ethics, which bridges theory and practice to shed light on issues of practical relevance to all; and (d) decentering philosophy as the arbiter for what counts as ¡°doing ethics.¡± The article ends with a look at challenges concerning stable funding and administrative support for a center that does not fit neatly into a single academic unit or specialty and shares some lessons learned.