What Is Ethics Bowl?

The Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl (IEB) is a nationally recognized competition that challenges students to think critically, reason clearly, and engage respectfully with complex moral issues. Unlike traditional debate, the Ethics Bowl is not about defeating an opponent. Instead, it emphasizes collaborative dialogue, open-mindedness, and the careful exploration of multiple perspectives.

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Format and Flow of a Match

Each match features two teams and a panel of judges. The structure is carefully timed to ensure fairness and depth of discussion:

1. Case Presentation (10 minutes) – One team is given a specific case and question in advance. At the match, they present their ethical framework, analysis, and proposed position. The emphasis is on reasoning, not rhetoric.

2. Commentary (5 minutes) – The opposing team offers commentary: they may highlight strengths of the first team’s argument, respectfully raise concerns, or present additional ethical considerations.

3. Response (5 minutes) – The presenting team responds to the commentary, clarifying or expanding on its reasoning.

4. Judges’ Questioning (10 minutes) – A panel of judges engages the presenting team in dialogue, probing the clarity, consistency, and depth of their reasoning. Teams are evaluated on their ability to listen, think flexibly, and respond thoughtfully.

5. Switch and Repeat – The second team then presents on a different case, and the process repeats.

This format ensures that each team has the opportunity to present, critique, defend, and engage in dialogue with both peers and judges.

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Types of Cases

Cases presented at Ethics Bowls are drawn from real-world issues across a wide range of fields. Examples include:

• Bioethics: Should hospitals be allowed to refuse certain treatments on grounds of conscience?

• Technology: How should AI developers balance innovation with the risks of bias and misinformation?

• Social Justice: Is it ethical to use race-conscious admissions policies in higher education?

• Environmental Ethics: What responsibilities do wealthy nations have in combating climate change?

• Professional Ethics: Should lawyers defend clients they know to be guilty of serious crimes?

Cases are designed to resist simple “yes or no” answers. They push students to consider competing values, anticipate counterarguments, and recognize the moral weight of multiple perspectives.

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Educational Purpose

The Ethics Bowl is not adversarial. Its aim is to foster understanding across differences. Students are rewarded for demonstrating respect toward opposing views, building on one another’s reasoning, and showing intellectual humility.

• Hearing Other Perspectives: Success requires listening carefully to ideas that differ from your own and responding with openness rather than hostility.

• Collaborative Learning: Teams develop their arguments together, combining insights from philosophy, law, public policy, science, and lived experience.

• Civic Engagement: By grappling with pressing social questions, participants cultivate the habits of reasoning and respect essential for democratic life.

At its core, the Ethics Bowl is an educational conversation—one that models how ethical disagreements can be addressed through mutual respect and shared inquiry rather than polarization.