Inaugural Saskatchewan High School Ethics Bowl has STM flavour
Event can help create problem solvers of the future, says organizer
By Paul Sinkewicz/Chris Putnam
St. Thomas More College was well represented at the first ever Saskatchewan High School Ethics Bowl recently.
Dr. John Liptay, Dr. Michael Cichon, Dr. Charles Smith and STM alumna and philosophy MA student Emily Sinkewicz served as judges for the competition on Saturday, March 26.
The event was organized by the USask Department of Philosophy.
“The ethics bowl is an extraordinary way for students to get initiated in the process of helping to solve these difficult problems,” said Dr. Pierre-François Noppen, assistant professor of philosophy in the College of Arts and Science and lead organizer of the event.
Six teams from Aden Bowman Collegiate and Bedford Road Collegiate competed in four rounds, vying for a spot in the final round and the chance to earn a spot in the online 2022 National Ethics Bowl Final, hosted by the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg.
The teams discussed a set of ethical questions drawn from contemporary issues. These include “Is tourism immoral?” “Should medical assistance in dying be extended to chronic sufferers?” and “Is it ever right to exclude a job candidate based on race or gender?”
An ethics bowl resembles a debate, but with a greater focus on cooperation and communication. Participants are encouraged to change their viewpoints when they hear convincing arguments.
“Our colleagues in philosophy in Arts and Science did a great job of organizing the first Ethics Bowl at USask,” said Dr. Liptay. “I think it ended up being a very special day for the students involved and also a rewarding one for the faculty that took part. The discussions were at a surprisingly high level and were carried out respectfully and civilly. I even had the opportunity to speak to a student who is thinking of majoring in philosophy and who wanted to find out a little more of what it involves. So, a tremendous event all in all - a great foundation on which to build and to foster student interest in philosophy and the philosophy programs at STM and in Arts and Science.”
Ethics bowls have become popular in Canadian provinces including Ontario, Manitoba and Alberta, but until now, none have been hosted in Saskatchewan.
“It promotes precisely the kinds of skills that we would like young Canadian citizens to have when they think about how to solve ethical issues,” said Noppen, who formerly was an instructor at STM College.
The winning team was from Bedford Road Collegiate. The national final will take place on Thursday, April 28.