High School students from across the region gathered to answer some thorny ethical questions as part of the 8th Annual Ethics Bowl hosted by Manhattanville College.
Sponsored by the college’s philosophy program in cooperation with the Marshall Institute for Ethical Thought and Action, the regional bowl was held on January 28. The competition pitted high school students from top-tier regional high schools including Arlington High School, Dover High School, Fairfield Preparatory, French-American School of NY, George F. Baker High School, The School of the Holy Child, John S. Burke Catholic High School, The Montfort Academy, Oakwood Friends School, Poughkeepsie High School, Salesian High School, and Archbishop Stepinac High School.
Arlington High School in LaGrangeville, NY, placed first for the region followed by runner-up Fairfield Preparatory in Connecticut.
Arlington will now compete with two other schools in a play-off round on February 21 to determine who will compete at the National Level at UNC–Chapel Hill.
Beginning with breakfast and check-in at Manhattanville’s O’Byrne Chapel, the region’s best and brightest prepared themselves for a day of mental fortitude and battling of wits that lasted until the closing ceremonies at 5 pm.
During the competition, teams are asked to come up with a solution and, more importantly, defend their position in an intelligent and logical fashion.
One case debated what responsibilities a man should have to his wife of 60 years who now suffered from Alzheimer’s disease even though he was in a new relationship. Another asked students to discuss whether artificial intelligence had feelings equal to those of human beings.
Students were judged by whether they had captured the salient ethical issues and how clearly they stated their cases. The bowl is about the process. Although it is a competition, opposing teams work together to arrive at the truth, she said.