by Gary Pavela — “He who knows all the answers has not been asked all the questions”―Confucius Editor’s note: See our related essay on MEDIUM: “Belief + Doubt = Sanity” [1] You find a sense of purpose in embracing a totalistic ideology that sees itself in intractable opposition with the “evil other.” Theologian Reinhold Niebuhr wrote in his book The Nature and Destiny of Man (1941) that human beings stand “at the juncture of nature and…

Preliminary note: This short essay might be read in conjunction with our two prior MEDIUM articles: “Belief +Doubt = Sanity” and “Nine Signs You May be Part of a Political Cult.” Years ago Simon Blackburn wrote a memorable review of Richard Dawkins’ book A Devil’s Chaplain: Reflections on Hope, Lies…

“God made man because He loves stories.” ― Elie Wiesel — A sample chapter from our forthcoming book: “Driving Plato’s Chariot: Lessons on Student Ethical Development from the Academic Integrity Seminar.” Presentation slides for this chapter. An excerpt from Plato’s Phaedrus (the vase image interpreted) “Of the nature of the soul let me speak briefly, and in a figure. And let…

The Educational Benefits of Timely Reminders Editor’s Note: In TPR 15.20 (Harvard honor code and integrity pledge) we reported on Harvard’s adoption of an “integrity affirmation” students must sign on a variety of academic assignments. Several years ago my family and I visited the site of the ancient Olympic games in Greece. An astute member of…

By Gary Pavela (presented at the Kenan Institute for Ethics, Duke University, 2005; revised and expanded February 2023) Aristotle suggests the final measure of a good life is in the balance it displays; the wisdom it discovers; the friendship it cultivates; the communities it builds; and the beauty it creates. …

by Gary Pavela The subject of applied ethics has returned to American colleges and universities. In the late 1980s, Derek Bok (then president at Harvard University) began to stress the importance of student “character development” (see Bok “Ethics, the University and Society,” Harvard Magazine, May-June, 1988, p. 39). Bok observed…

Editor’s Note: This history was initiated by The University of Maryland Student Honor Council. We share it here with the aim of encouraging development of comparable honor code histories elsewhere. See, for example, this overview of the creation of the Princeton University Honor Code. The University of Maryland pioneered the…

by Bill Taylor (introduction by Gary Pavela) Most academic integrity administrators are familiar with Bill Taylor’s “A Letter to My students.” We reproduce it below from our TPR newsletter, along with a comment by Dr. …

by Gary Pavela EDITOR’S NOTE: Several years ago Syracuse University sponsored an academic integrity forum featuring presentations by student leaders from the University of Maryland, Princeton University, Vanderbilt University, and Syracuse University. Participants were: Shaun Gates, Honor Council Chair at the University of Maryland; Austin Elder, Honor Council Chair at…