Futurity

Ethicists: COVID-19 shows inequities in structure of society

Three ethicists argue that the moral dilemmas that the coronavirus puts in front of Americans result from longstanding inequality. Here's their case.
reflection of US flag in puddle

Beneath many of the coronavirus ethical dilemmas facing Americans lie longstanding inequities in our social structure and failures of social justice, say three ethicists.

They call the current crisis a “wake-up call” for the future.

Taking part in this roundtable discussion of ethics and COVID-19 are Randall Curren, William FitzPatrick, and Rosa Terlazzo.

“The most vulnerable are going to suffer the most here, in ways that are completely foreseeable and wholly due to the way that we’ve structured society.”

Curren, a professor of philosophy and chair of the philosophy department at the University of Rochester, is an expert in ethics, moral psychology, and the philosophy of education. FitzPatrick, professor of intellectual and moral philosophy, specializes in metaethics, normative ethics, and bioethics. Terlazzo, an associate professor of philosophy, joined Rochester’s faculty this year. A moral, social, and political philosopher, her areas of research include autonomy, well-being, and transformative experiences.

The ethicists answer questions about COVID-19 ethics here:

The post Ethicists: COVID-19 shows inequities in structure of society appeared first on Futurity.

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