Ethics Bowl
The Ethics Bowl is a transformative competition that challenges students to apply ethical principles to real-world cases, fostering ethical reasoning, communication, and teamwork. It is a conversational model inspired by the APPE Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl (IEB), which has expanded into specific fields, specialized age groups, and national and international competitions. For example, students might examine whether mandating electric vehicles is ethical, weighing climate benefits, community impacts, and small business challenges.
Beyond crafting and defending arguments, participants develop vital conversational skills like active listening, de-escalation, and perspective-taking. By emphasizing respectful discourse and critical thinking, the Ethics Bowl prepares students to navigate complex moral issues and become effective leaders, scholars, and citizens.
Members of the team are involved in multiple events throughout the year, including Ole Miss Welcome Week, the RSO Fair, The Great Debate, Just Conversations, IEB Regional Competition and the IEB National Competition (if qualified).d)
Competition Format
The Ethics Bowl features two teams meeting head-to-head to discuss and evaluate case studies which feature tricky moral questions or dilemmas.
Teams analyze and present solutions to ethical dilemmas drawn from real-world cases
Judges pose questions that test the depth of the teams' ethical understanding
Scoring is based on clarity, relevance, and the depth of moral reasoning
Join the Team
Students who are currently enrolled in or have taken Ethical Policy Debate (Phil 204) are eligible to join the UM Ethics Bowl Team. For more information, contact us at ethics@olemiss.edu.
Ethics Bowls Across All Levels
From middle school to college and beyond, Ethics Bowl competitions engage learners at every stage, fostering ethical reasoning, critical thinking, and collaboration.
Not debate, ‘Ethics Bowl’ helps show students a new world of discourse. – AP
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Hosted by the Association of Practical and Professional Ethics (APPE), the IEB challenges college teams to tackle complex ethical dilemmas. Each year, teams compete in regional tournaments, with top teams advancing to the national competition at the APPE annual conference. Judging criteria include the strength of arguments, ability to foster productive dialogue, civility, and clarity for a general audience. Teams must connect their arguments to ethical concepts like fairness, justice, and care. APPE offers free resources for universities interested in starting a team.
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Modeled after the IEB and adapted for high school students, the NHSEB is administered by the Parr Center for Ethics at UNC-Chapel Hill. High school teams compete regionally, with winners advancing to a national championship. The Parr Center provides extensive resources, including archived cases, starter kits, instructional videos, and a case writing competition with prizes. PLATO also sponsors a separate ethics case writing initiative to encourage thoughtful engagement with moral issues.
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The Middle School Ethics Bowl adapts the high school format for younger students, focusing on age-appropriate topics in history, science, and social issues. Founded at Kent Place School (NJ), this version emphasizes extended exploratory conversations, helping students develop critical thinking, perspective-taking, and collaboration skills. Teachers can encourage students to participate in PLATO’s case writing competition for additional enrichment.tion text goes here
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PLATO also facilitates ntergenerational ethics programs that bring together students, parents, community members, and seniors for guided discussions. These non-competitive dialogues foster mutual understanding by encouraging participants to reflect on their own experiences while considering others’ perspectives. This approach builds empathy, critical thinking, and a stronger sense of community.
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The Lockheed Martin Ethics in Engineering Case Competition challenges undergraduate teams to navigate complex ethical, business, and engineering dilemmas. Representing their academic institutions, two-student teams—along with a faculty advisor—analyze and present solutions to a fictional case that mirrors real-world challenges. Beyond the competition, students gain hands-on exposure to Lockheed Martin’s technologies and explore the critical role of ethics in the workplace. This annual event highlights the importance of voicing one’s values in the face of intricate ethical decisions in engineering and business.
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The Senior Military College Ethics Bowl, hosted virtually by the University of North Georgia, brings together teams from all six U.S. Senior Military Colleges (SMCs) for a one-day competition on national ethical issues related to the military. Held in partnership with the APPE, this event challenges participants to engage in thoughtful discussion and debate on complex moral dilemmas. The competition fosters critical thinking, ethical reasoning, and professional development for future military leaders.
